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Brooklyn preacher who bragged about ties to New York mayor sentenced to nine years in prison for years of fraud

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NEW YORK (AP) – A superb Brooklyn preacher who developed relationships with the mayor of New York was sentenced Monday to nine years in prison for multiple counts of fraud.

Lamor Miller-Whitehead, 45, of Paramus, New Jersey, was sentenced in federal court in Manhattan by Judge Lorna G. Schofield, who said she saw no significant remorse on the part of the bishop driving a Rolls Royce convicted of defrauding one parishioner of $90,000 in retirement savings, amongst other frauds.

In a rambling statement, Miller-Whitehead said he was “very remorseful” but bragged about his good deeds in his community and expressed regret about the trial, prompting the judge to interrupt him with a reminder that sentencing will not be the time for reconsideration matters matter.

“The court heard the evidence. The jury returned a verdict,” she said.

In March, a jury convicted Miller-Whitehead of all counts, including wire fraud, attempted extortion and perjury. Schofield said the preacher committed perjury while testifying.

She said the lengthy prison sentence was mandatory because Miller-Whitehead was highly likely to commit future crimes, especially since previous convictions for similar offenses had not deterred him from committing further crimes.

“You don’t seem to realize the consequences of your crimes,” Schofield said.

“Your honor, I am an honorable man and my children need me,” he said, asking to be spared prison time and becoming a “poster child for another chance.”

Miller-Whitehead became friends with Mayor Eric Adams while Adams was Brooklyn’s borough president before being elected to the town’s top job. Prosecutors argued that Miller-Whitehead used the Adams name to commit fraud and attempted extortion. Adams has not been charged with any wrongdoing in the case.

Miller-Whitehead mentioned Adams in his pre-sentence remarks.

Asked about the sentence during Monday’s news conference, Adams said: “I am praying for Bishop Whitehead and wish him the best.”

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Miller-Whitehead became a non secular figure in 2013 when he founded Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries. He was also known for wearing designer clothes and was once the victim of a robbery when bandits who surprised him during a church service stole $1 million price of jewelry from him.

Although he preached primarily in Brooklyn, he owned a $1.6 million home in Paramus, New Jersey, and an apartment in Hartford, Connecticut.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wikstrom asked for a sentence of greater than 12 years in prison, arguing that Miller-Whitehead defrauded large financial institutions in addition to a parishioner who lost her life savings.

“He didn’t distinguish. He fooled everyone,” Wikstrom said.

Miller-Whitehead, Wikstrom said, “lied and stole nonstop.”

“He cannot stop stealing. He won’t stop lying,” the prosecutor said. “That’s what the defendant is.”

Wikstrom said Miller-Whitehead had experienced a “psychological and delusional failure” to accept that he had committed against the law and have to be punished.

In addition to the prison sentence, Miller-Whitehead was also ordered to pay $85,000 in restitution and forfeit $95,000.

His lawyer, Dawn Florio, urged him to stay out of jail, citing her client’s charity work and saying “you can’t ignore everything he’s done for the community.”

The judge said that if not for these good deeds, Miller-Whitehead’s sentence would have been longer.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Crime

Luigi Mangione, 26, in police custody in connection with the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO

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UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting, UnitedHealthcare CEO murder, UnitedHealthcare CEO death, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Luigi Mangione, Luigi Mangione UnitedHealthcare CEO murder, Luigi Mangione UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting, theGrio.com

New York authorities have identified 26-year-old Luigi Mangione as an individual of interest in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

According to police, a McDonald’s worker recognized Mangione in a photograph taken by NYPD Crime Stoppers and called authorities to report that he was eating at the restaurant, which led to his arrest.

Police say Mangione was carrying an anti-corporate manifesto, false identification and a ghost gun.

Black Girl Disney co-founder Dominique Brown dies from an allergic reaction during the brand's holiday event

“It fits the description we were looking for,” Mayor Eric Adams said. An early NYPD report drew criticism online for calling the suspect a “light-skinned male” fairly than simply saying he was white.

The New York Post reports that Mangione previously attended the University of Pennsylvania, was valedictorian of the highschool in 2016 and had ties to Towson, Maryland. His social media posts indicate motivation related to dissatisfaction with the health care industry.

The shooting gained national attention because of the lukewarm response to Thompson’s death from many voters, who criticized the high insurance denial rate and greed that contributed to the American loss of life.

NYPD officers will now travel to Pennsylvania to query Mangione. Watch the entire press conference below:

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Crime

OJ Simpson’s audio testimony claims have been proven false

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OJ Simpson, O.J. Simpson

OJ Simpson, OJ Simpson

Iroc Avelli, OJ Simpson’s former bodyguard, claimed to have a recording of the late NFL player admitting to killing Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. According to .evaluation of the audio recording showed the claim to be false.

In June 2024, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) contacted the Bloomington, Minnesota police department to realize access to thumb drives confiscated during Avelli’s 2022 arrest.

Bloomington Police Department arrested Avelli for alleged assault in 2022; upon arrest, the police seized Avelli’s backpack and obtained an order to gather relevant evidence on the scene. The backpack contained multiple flash drives that the previous security guard said contained Simpson’s confessions.

According to Peasant! News“search warrant filed in Hennepin County requested by Officer George Harms seek for image pendrives in order that “a full forensic examination could possibly be carried out on all of the pendrives to acquire the recording.”

The Bloomington Police Department didn’t return the drives, opting as an alternative to conduct an internal forensic examination. After a digital forensics specialist examined the drives, Bloomington police didn’t disclose any information of “probative value” to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The further investigation into the Simpson and Goldman murders is strange because on October 3, 1995, OJ Simpson was acquitted of all charges. The former San Francisco 49er maintained his innocence until his death from cancer on April 11, 2024.

After his acquittal, OJ Simpson continued to benefit from his fame. In 1996, the Buffalo Bills player published a book titled If I Did It: Confessions of a Killer. Many found the book’s title and content distasteful and criticized it Naked weapon the actor’s constant presence in celebrity culture.

However, many individuals imagine that Simpson’s acquittal ought to be enough to just accept his presence in all spaces. BLACK ENTERPRISES reports on rapper Cam’Ron’s response to criticism after Simpson was invited on his sports show before his death.

The It is what it’s the host and businessman believes that the accusations – proven in court – shouldn’t result in ostracization. Cam’Ron believes that Simpson’s race may have played a job in continuously questioning his innocence throughout his life.

“Look, if he was guilty, we wouldn’t have him on the show,” he said. “You wish to proceed convicting an innocent man. He is innocent. If it was another person, whiter, you’d all say, “Oh, he’s innocent.” TO BE reported.

It appears that the hearings and investigation into Orenthol James Simpson’s role, or lack thereof, in his ex-wife’s murder will proceed even after his death.


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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Crime

Suspect charged with fatally shooting 3-year-old on Thanksgiving Day

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Suspect Charged In Fatal Shooting Of 3-Year-Old On Thanksgiving

Suspect charged with fatally shooting 3-year-old on Thanksgiving Day

Tatisha Refuge, a 47-year-old New Orleans resident, turned herself in to authorities after the death of 3-year-old Rudy Ratliff. Refuge is charged with “manslaughter by negligence.”

Rudy’s mother, Leshawn Ratliff, lives in Texas but visited Refuge, her foster mother, in the previous few days of Thanksgiving. Nov 8 News.

“I came here on Saturday to pick up my older son. He was here over Thanksgiving break, and I came down on Saturday to pick him up so we could go home on Sunday and they could go back to school on Monday.” Ratliff he said.

While playing UNO, Refuge’s unsecured gun fell from her belt and fired, striking Rudy. Ratliff she recounted how the scene unfolded when she discovered Rudy had been shot.

“I began seeing blood coming out of his chest. That’s once I knew he had been shot. So I called 911.

The mother didn’t wish to wait for 911. Instead, she decided to take Rudy to University Medical Center for treatment. She said that after they arrived at the ability, Rudy seemed to be alive. Unfortunately, 20 minutes later she was informed of his death.

Ratliff she nurtured her relationship with Refuge and is torn now that the accusations involve her foster mother.

“It was a random shooting. His grandfather’s gun fell. It wasn’t within the secure. It wasn’t within the gun position. I believe it went into the pocket and fell out and shot my son,” Ratliff said. “I understand it was a mistake. I imagine in my heart that it was a mistake. I just don’t understand. I just don’t understand.

The grieving mother began a GoFundMe and is asking the general public for help with Rudy’s burial. To support the Ratliff family of their time of need, click here.


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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