The Brooklyn bishop who said he was robbed during a sermon is answering questions for the first time about how he funds his lavish lifestyle, and has addressed a lawsuit he faces over thousands of dollars a parishioner gave him.
“Everyone wanted to talk about the ostentatious bishop that the media portrayed,” said Bishop Lamor Whitehead.
Police said Whitehead, known for his close friendship with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, was assaulted during a July 24 sermon that was streamed live online. Whitehouse says he and his family were held at gunpoint when three masked men stole at least $400,000 worth of jewelry.
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/nypd-preacher-wife-robbed-of-1m-in-jewelry-when-sermon/3793735/
Whitehead was heard lecturing on keeping the faith in the face of serious adversity, moments before the thieves entered the church, located above a Haitian restaurant in Canarsie. He is then seen falling to his hands and knees and repeatedly saying, “Okay, okay,” before a man with a gun and wearing a black hoodie walks into frame.
The man, also wearing a black face mask, is then seen approaching Whitehead, who was hiding behind a gilt lectern, and stuffing the bishop’s jewels into his pockets. Another man, dressed in similar attire, is then seen making his way towards Whitehead, standing near him for a few minutes, then running off.
Whitehead said in a video posted on Instagram that the thieves ripped his neck to grab his chain and pointed a gun at his young daughter’s face as they stole his wife’s jewelry. In all, police said the thieves took a women’s wedding ring, earrings, Rolex and Cavalier watches, a gold chain and a men’s wedding ring, a Cuban chain, a diamond and emerald cross and other items. of the church.
In a video posted to Instagram in the days after the robbery, Whitehead said he felt a “demonic force” enter the church and he wasn’t sure if the gunmen “wanted to shoot up the church or were just coming to rob the church. He “he said he was thankful no one was hurt and, earlier in the week, he offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the robbers’ arrest.
As for the suspects, police said they don’t have much to go on. They don’t have a clear description of the men because they were wearing masks. No arrests have been made yet.
A new video released by the NYPD on Wednesday shows three masked men dressed in black wanted for allegedly entering a Brooklyn church during a live-streamed Sunday morning service, displaying weapons and stealing $1 million worth of jewelry. of the pastor and his wife as the former lectured on keeping the faith in the face of serious adversity.
It was an unholy heist that made headlines around the world, primarily due to Whitehead’s remarkably flashy lifestyle. He can often be seen driving around the Big Apple in his Rolls Royce.
But on Friday, the pastor responded strongly to criticism on social media that he had something to do with the robbery. The bishop acknowledges that he wears fancy clothes and drives fancy cars, but says that he should not be judged by his appearance. He says that he has multiple sources of income and does not receive a salary from the church.
“I wear what I wear to cheer people up, not to make fun of people. My community work speaks for itself,” she said at a press conference. “My wife hasn’t stopped crying yet, my daughter hasn’t stopped crying, my members haven’t stopped crying. Nobody empathizes with my church.”
Whitehead is also facing possible financial problems related to his unsuccessful 2021 campaign for Brooklyn Borough President. Campaign finance board records show two loans, including one from a woman named Josette Bayoro for $150,000 that has not been repaid.
State election law says loans must be paid back before Election Day or they are considered contributions. The loan in this case would far exceed the $1,500 contribution limit for individuals.
When questioned about the allegedly unreturned money, Whitehead’s press person tried to stop the press conference from being answered. But Whitehead proceeded to answer the question anyway.
“That is more of a legal issue. What you just said is inaccurate, I’ll leave it at that,” she said.
Whitehead’s attorney later told News 4 that he had no comment and would have to speak with his client.
Police said more than $1 million worth of jewelry was stolen when Bishop Lamar Whitehead gave his sermon at a Brooklyn church, prompting some to criticize the pastor and his wife for wearing such flashy and extravagant gear.
Whitehead also responded to a lawsuit filed by a parishioner in September 2021, in which a woman alleges the pastor convinced her to give up nearly all of her life savings, promising to help her buy a house despite her bad record. credit. According to the lawsuit obtained by NBC New York, the woman wrote a $90,000 check to Whitehead in November 2020.
After months passed, the complaint alleges that Whitehead told the woman that he treated her investment as a donation to his unsuccessful campaign for Brooklyn borough president and that he was not required to pay it back.
When asked about Friday’s lawsuit, Whitehead only called it a “fictitious claim against me, which is why we got a win today.”
On Friday. a judge denied the woman’s motion for “default judgment” because Whitehead failed to respond to the suit and found there was no proof of service. Whitehead’s attorney said her client does not believe she received it, but will oppose these actions on all merits and is confident they will prevail.
Source: www.nbcnewyork.com