NEW YORK (AP) — Two males had been arrested Wednesday for the theft of a flashy Brooklyn pastor who was delivering a sermon in July about preserving religion when gun-toting masked males crashed the service and stole over $1 million in jewellery from the pastor and his spouse.
The lads processed in Brooklyn federal court docket had been recognized as Say-Quan Pollack and Juwan Anderson, each 23. Authorities stated a 3rd particular person charged within the case remained at giant. Attorneys for the boys declined to remark. Anderson was to be launched on $50,000 bail whereas Pollack was detained pending a bail software.
The lads stole jewellery from the pastor, Lamor Miller-Whitehead, and his spouse, “terrifying the congregation within the course of,” after coming into the church service masked and clad in black, U.S. Legal professional Breon Peace in Brooklyn stated in an announcement.
Miller-Whitehead, recognized for a flashy persona that features costly jewellery and journey in his Rolls Royce, is a good friend of New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams.
The previous police captain bought to know Miller-Whitehead whereas serving as Brooklyn’s borough president for eight years earlier than he turned mayor in January.
At a information convention, James Essig, chief of detectives for the New York Police Division, stated police detectives from the Brooklyn theft squad and federal brokers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives used video and digital monitoring strategies to assist remedy the crime.
NYPD Inspector Nicholas Fiore stated federal expenses introduced beneath the Hobbs Act had been favored within the prosecution as a result of the costs carry a possible 10-year minimal jail sentence upon conviction as a result of the theft was carried out with a firearm.
Fiore known as the theft “fairly tough,” noting that a gun was directed at a baby at one level. If convicted of expenses together with theft conspiracy and theft, the boys might resist life in jail.
Federal prosecutors are searching for pretrial detention for Pollack, saying in a court docket submitting that his legal historical past, overwhelming proof of his guilt and the excessive penalties he faces after conviction make him a hazard to the neighborhood and a risk to flee.
On the time of the theft, Miller-Whitehead’s sermon was being live-streamed on-line. Moments earlier than the robbers entered the scene, Miller-Whitehead might be heard asking parishioners: “What number of of you've got misplaced religion since you noticed any individual else die?”
Miller-Whitehead, 44, shaped Leaders of Tomorrow Worldwide Ministries in 2013, after serving a five-year jail sentence for id theft and grand larceny. Whitehead claims he was illegally convicted.
Miller-Whitehead got here to federal court docket Wednesday partially to dispel any notions that he was in on the crime, saying outdoors court docket that he hoped the arrests put to relaxation false rumors “that I had one thing to do with this. ... My household and my church have been very traumatized. I’m hoping we get justice.”
Related Press Author Larry Neumeister contributed to this report.
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