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

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.