Bergen Man Admits Role In Multi-Million Dollar Tax Scheme

The Bergen County treasurer of the Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ admitted conspiring to run a multi-million tax evasion scheme that saw the church pay millions of dollars in personal expenses.

Lincoln Warrington, 48, pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States in Newark federal court Wednesday, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Authorities alleged that Warrington and the church's leader, Jermaine Grant, 43, of Burlington Township, moved about $2.4 million from the church through Black Icon Entertainment between 2007 and 2015, NJ.com previously reported. Grant also pleaded guilty conspiring to defraud the United States.

Authorities allege that Warrington and Grant used the money to pay for Grant’s personal expenses, including payments for rental real estate properties, vacations, high-end luxury items, and private school tuition for Grant’s minor children.

Some of those purchases and expenses include: Trips to Disneyland, an $11,700 shopping spree at Neiman Marcus, private school tuition, and a chauffeured Mercedes for Grant's kids, according to NJ.com.

The pair allegedly omitted millions of dollars in income from the IRS, and failed to pay at $250,000 in taxes, authorities said.

The conspiracy charge has a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. If the court accepts the plea deal, Warrington and Grant would be sentenced to a maximum of 30 months in prison.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 23.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com