NEW YORK (AP) — A Brooklyn preacher known for his flamboyant lifestyle and who boasted of his friendship with New York's mayor was found guilty Monday in federal court on charges of wire fraud, attempted extortion and lying to the FBI. received.
Lamore Miller-Whitehead, 47, was found guilty on five charges after a trial that began late last month in federal court in Manhattan.Prosecutors had claimed his preacher exaggerated his relationship with the mayor. Eric Adams Then, greed got the better of him and he plundered parishioners' retirement funds and tried to extort businessmen to finance his lavish lifestyle.
He is also accused of lying to FBI agents by denying he had a second cell phone.
Miller-Whitehead's attorney, Dawn Florio, said she is appealing the verdict. She told jurors during her trial that the evidence against her client did not support her charges.
Miller-Whitehead made headlines in July when armed robbers interrupted her church service and robbed her of $1 million in jewelry.
The preacher embraced an ostentatious lifestyle. He was known to drive a Rolls-Royce, and records show he lived in a $1.6 million home in Paramus, New Jersey. He also owned an apartment in Hartford, Connecticut.
Prosecutors alleged that Miller-Whitehead defrauded church members of $90,000 in retirement savings by falsely promising to find them homes and invest the rest in a real estate business. Prosecutors claim he spent the money on luxury goods and clothing.
He is also accused of trying to convince a businessman to lend him $500,000 and give him a stake in a real estate deal, claiming that his relationship with city officials could give him preferential treatment for the businessman's benefit. ing.
Adams became close friends with Miller-Whitehead while serving as Brooklyn borough president. Adams, a former police chief, said he has since spent decades enforcing the law and expects everyone to follow it.
Sentencing for Miller-Whitehead is scheduled for July 1.
