In Bishop Lamor Whitehead Trial Victim Cries of $90000 Retirement Taken for 1 House Show

More below the fold / paywall (support / subscribe) line here

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell Book

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Feb 27 -  In the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on the morning of December 19, 2022 the talk was of flashy pastor Lamor Whitehead, set to be presented in the afternoon.

Inner City Press was present, the only media in the Mag Court in the morning for three procedings. Related Mag Court live-tweeted thread (more on Patreon here) vlog here

On February 26, 2024 the trial started and Inner City Press live tweeted opening arguments, here

On February 27, Pauline Anderson testified and cried. Inner City Press live tweeted, here

AUSA: Who did you understand Mr. Whitehead to be helping? Pauline Anderson: I believe the team Rasheed was working with to get his house was recommended by Mr. Whitehead.

AUSA: How long did it take? Pauline Anderson: Four months. I co-signed for the mortgage.

 AUSA: What had lowered your credit score? Pauline Anderson: I co-signed others' loans - my niece and for my son Miguel - and they were behind AUSA: What is a downpayment? Pauline Anderson: A sizeable sum you put down.

AUSA: Who paid the downpayment for Rasheed's home? Pauline Anderson: He did. AUSA: When did you first see Rasheed's home? Pauline Anderson: Before the closing. AUSA: Who was at the closing? Pauline Anderson: Mr. Whitehead was there...

AUSA: Who presided over Rasheed and his wife's wedding? Pauline Anderson: Mr. Whitehead. AUSA: When he had surgery - did you speak with Mr. Whitehead? Pauline Anderson: He offered prayers. I really believed he was a man of God

 AUSA: Did they come a time when Mr. Whitehead got involved in your process? Pauline Anderson: Yes. I was planning to take out $50,000 from my retirement in TransAmerica.  AUSA: Did you follow Mr. Whitehead's advice? Pauline Anderson: Yes. I thought he was truthful

 AUSA: If not for Mr. Whitehead's advice, how much would have taken out of your retirement? Pauline Anderson: $50,000. AUSA: Where did you make the transfer? Pauline Anderson: To my BofA account.  AUSA: Here, how much was taken out? Pauline Anderson: $100,000

 AUSA: Are you familiar with Sean Carson? Pauline Anderson: A loan officer. Mr. Whitehead connected me with him. AUSA: What did Mr. Carson say? Pauline Anderson: That I couldn't get a loan.

 AUSA: What was your understanding when Mr. Whitehead would find you a house? Pauline Anderson: 6 months. AUSA: What did you expect to lose? Pauline Anderson: Nothing.  AUSA: How did you make the $90,000 payment to Mr. Whitehead? PA: Check, from BofAAUSA: How much was this for?

Pauline Anderson: $90,015.  AUSA: What did you think Mr. Whitehead would do? Pauline Anderson: That I would see properties. But we only went to see one property. Rasheed was there - and two more from Mr. Whitehead's church

Pauline Anderson: We saw two houses in New Jersey. AUSA: What did you think of them? Pauline Anderson: They were small and narrow. Next to a train station, it passed while we were there. A turn off for me.  AUSA: Did you tell Mr. Whitehead? PA: Yes.

AUSA: How did you communicate with Mr. Whitehead? Pauline Anderson: By phone. Never email or text. AUSA: Did you get concerned? PA: Yes, I told Rasheed. [voice breaks] I'd ask him, what's happening? He said Mr. Whitehead was busy with his campaign for Bklyn BP

 AUSA: How many $100 payments did you get from Mr. Whitehead? Pauline Anderson: Twice, in 2021. It was supposed to be interest. My focus was not so much on the $100, I thought the time span of getting the house would be short.

 AUSA: How did you ask for money back? Pauline Anderson: Mr. Whitehead gave Rasheed $5000 cash in an envelope AUSA: Was your landlord showing where you lived? PA: Yes. A couple seemed interested. I thought, I might not have a place to go to, for my mom and sister

AUSA: What were you told about getting your money back? Pauline Anderson: I kept hearing Mr. Whitehead was campaigning. AUSA: Was there a disagreement between Mr. Whitehead and Rasheed? PA: Yes. His wife had just had a traumatic delivery, at Lenox Hill Hospital

 AUSA: Can you read this text you sent to Mr. Whitehead? [Pauline Anderson does - and cries.]

Pauline Anderson is still crying] AUSA: Did you ever get a contract? PA: No. AUSA: You wrote, I need a return of the money - PA: Yes.  AUSA: And he wrote that Rasheed had been disrespectful. "I am a man of integrity, you will not lose, I just gave him $5K.

 AUSA: What did you write to Mr. Whitehead? Pauline Anderson: We need to discuss when I get the money back.  AUSA: Mr. Whitehead wrote back, suddenly there's urgency after Rasheed gets disrespectful. That he couldn't pay until August

AUSA: What here were you thinking? Pauline Anderson: I was panicking, that I'd lose the money. That's why I was texting. AUSA: Did Rasheed show you texts? PA: Yes. Mr. Whitehead was berating Rasheed, asking God to exact vengeance on him

 Judge Schofield: Is this a good place to end? AUSA: Yes. Jury leaves. Judge Schofield: We'll resume tomorrow.

More below the fold / paywall (support / subscribe) line here