In a recent development, Lamor Whitehead, a pastor facing criminal charges, purportedly boasted about his ties to notorious street gangs and Mayor Eric Adams while allegedly extorting a businessman, according to Manhattan federal prosecutors.
The case against Whitehead, who has reportedly been friends with Mayor Adams for years, involves accusations of swindling a parishioner, lying to the FBI, falsifying bank documents, and extorting a businessman named Brandon Belmonte for a $500,000 real estate investment.
Prosecutors claim that Whitehead made extraordinary claims about his connections in phone calls, in-person conversations, and text messages intercepted by authorities. They argue that Whitehead referred to Mayor Adams as the “key” to his financial success and falsely represented to Belmonte that the mayor could help them corruptly secure city government actions for their real estate venture.
While Mayor Adams is not charged in connection with Whitehead’s case and there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on his part, court filings suggest Whitehead made it seem as though he had direct contact with Adams, referring to him as “the official.”