NEW YORK (AP) — Two males have been arrested Wednesday for the theft of a flashy Brooklyn pastor who was once handing over a sermon in July about holding religion when gun-toting masked males crashed the carrier and stole over $1 million in jewellery from the pastor and his spouse.
The boys processed in Brooklyn federal courtroom have been recognized as Say-Quan Pollack and Juwan Anderson, each 23. Government stated a 3rd particular person charged within the case remained at massive. Legal professionals for the lads declined to remark. Anderson was once to be launched on $50,000 bail whilst Pollack was once detained pending a bail software.
The boys stole jewellery from the pastor, Lamor Miller-Whitehead, and his spouse, “terrifying the congregation within the procedure,” after coming into the church carrier masked and clad in black, U.S. Lawyer Breon Peace in Brooklyn stated in a observation.
Miller-Whitehead, recognized for a flashy personality that comes with dear jewellery and shuttle in his Rolls Royce, is a pal of New York Town Mayor Eric Adams.
The previous police captain were given to grasp Miller-Whitehead whilst serving as Brooklyn’s borough president for 8 years earlier than he become mayor in January.
At a information convention, James Essig, leader 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 how you can lend a hand resolve the crime.
NYPD Inspector Nicholas Fiore stated federal fees introduced beneath the Hobbs Act have been appreciated within the prosecution since the fees raise a possible 10-year minimal jail sentence upon conviction since the theft was once performed with a firearm.
Fiore referred to as the theft “beautiful tough,” noting {that a} gun was once directed at a kid at one level. If convicted of fees together with theft conspiracy and theft, the lads may withstand existence in jail.
Federal prosecutors are looking for pretrial detention for Pollack, announcing in a courtroom submitting that his felony historical past, overwhelming proof of his guilt and the prime consequences he faces after conviction make him a risk to the neighborhood and a risk to escape.
On the time of the theft, Miller-Whitehead’s sermon was once being live-streamed on-line. Moments earlier than the robbers entered the scene, Miller-Whitehead may well be heard asking parishioners: “What number of of you may have misplaced religion since you noticed someone else die?”
Miller-Whitehead, 44, shaped Leaders of The next day to come Global Ministries in 2013, after serving a five-year jail sentence for identification robbery and grand larceny. Whitehead claims he was once illegally convicted.
Miller-Whitehead got here to federal courtroom Wednesday partly to dispel any notions that he was once in at the crime, announcing out of doors courtroom that he was hoping the arrests put to relaxation false rumors “that I had one thing to do with this. … My circle of relatives and my church were very traumatized. I’m hoping we get justice.”
Related Press Author Larry Neumeister contributed to this document.