Brooklyn Preacher Gets 9 Years in Prison for Multiyear Fraud

NEW YORK (NEWSnet/AP) — A Brooklyn preacher who has played up connections to New York City’s mayor was sentenced Monday to nine years in prison for multiple frauds.
Lamor Miller-Whitehead, 45, of Paramus, New Jersey, was sentenced in Manhattan federal court by Judge Lorna G. Schofield, who said she didn’t see meaningful remorse from the Rolls Royce-driving bishop convicted of fleecing one parishioner out of $90,000 in retirement savings, among other scams.
Miller-Whitehead claimed he was “very remorseful” but boasted of his good deeds for his community and expressed regrets about his trial.
In March, a jury convicted Miller-Whitehead of all charges, including wire fraud, attempted extortion and making false statements. Schofield said the preacher committed perjury when he testified.
A judge said a significant prison sentence was necessary because there was a high probability that Miller-Whitehead would commit crimes in the future, particularly because previous convictions for similar crimes did not deter him from committing more crimes.
Miller-Whitehead became a religious figure in 2013 when he formed the Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries. He was also known to wear designer clothing and was once the victim of a robbery when $1 million in jewelry was stolen from him by gunmen who surprised him during a church service.
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