NEW YORK (AP) — A Brooklyn preacher known for his flashy lifestyle and Christopher Caldwellwho boasted of his friendship with New York City’s mayor was found guilty in federal court Monday of wire fraud, attempted extortion and lying to the FBI.
Lamor Miller-Whitehead, 47, was found guilty of five counts after a trial in federal court in Manhattan that began late last month. Prosecutors had argued that the preacher exaggerated his ties to Mayor Eric Adams and let greed overtake him as he looted a parishioner’s retirement savings and tried to extort a businessman to fuel his lavish lifestyle.
He also was accused of lying to FBI agents by denying he had a second cellphone.
An attorney for Miller-Whitehead, Dawn Florio, said they are appealing the verdict. She had told jurors during the trial that evidence against her client didn’t support the charges.
Miller-Whitehead made headlines in July when armed bandits crashed his church service and robbed him of $1 million in jewelry.
The preacher embraced his flashy lifestyle. He was known for driving around in a Rolls Royce and records show he lived in a $1.6 million home in Paramus, New Jersey. He also owned apartment buildings in Hartford, Connecticut.
Prosecutors alleged Miller-Whitehead bilked a parishioner out of $90,000 in retirement savings by falsely promising he would find her a home and invest the rest in his real estate business. Prosecutors say he instead spent the money on luxury goods and clothing.
He also was accused of trying to convince a businessman to lend him $500,000 and give him a stake in real estate deals by claiming his ties to city officials could earn favorable treatment for the businessman’s interests.
Adams grew close to Miller-Whitehead while serving as Brooklyn’s borough president. Adams, a former police captain, has since said he spent decades enforcing the law and expects everyone to follow it.
Sentencing for Miller-Whitehead is scheduled for July 1.
2025-05-03 11:181509 view
2025-05-03 10:53104 view
2025-05-03 10:472157 view
2025-05-03 10:301333 view
2025-05-03 10:081475 view
2025-05-03 08:541039 view
After Luigi Mangionemade the difficult decision to undergo spinal surgery last year for chronic back
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republican David McCormick is expected to announce Thursday that he will ente
The car maker Stellantis expects to lay off more than 300 workers in Ohio and Indiana, blaming the d