Preacher, heal thyself.
Bishop Orlando Findlayter helped himself to $1,000 from one of his own nonprofits and has a history of stiffing small business owners, sources told the Daily News.
The well-connected minister — now at the helm of a $4.6 million-a-year charter school — made an unauthorized cash withdrawal from his Churches United to Save and Heal, or CUSH, in the summer of 2009, the group’s former treasurer told The News.
“When I confronted him, he gave me some story that there’s no way had merit,” said the certified public accountant, who asked not to be named. “At that point, I said, ‘I’m out, I can’t work with someone like this.’ “
The treasurer said he notified the board of his resignation in August 2009.
“CUSH didn’t have a lot of money,” he added, explaining that at that time the coalition had fewer than 20 members — mostly “storefront pastors” who emigrated from Africa and the Caribbean.
Longtime CUSH member Rev. Philius Nicolas, of the Evangelical Crusade of Fishers of Men, confirmed that the treasurer had been on the board but left.
Meanwhile, Alfonso Ordde, 39, who owns Shiloh Services, sued Findlayter in April, claiming an $11,400 check for 11 buses bounced. Ordde said Findlayter rented the buses to ferry CUSH members to a March 21 immigration protest in Washington.
Ordde is convinced the preacher, who lives in a $579,000 Long Island house, knew the check would bounce.
“He’s a con artist who uses his influence as a preacher to defraud people,” Ordde railed.
When he reached out to other members of CUSH to plead for his money, Ordde said he reached the treasurer and learned the reason for his resignation.
Ordde said Findlayter’s wife Yvette started making piecemeal payments of $700 to $800.
The financial follies are just the latest in a series of questionable money moves by Findlayter who has rubbed elbows with politicians from City Hall to the White House. The News revealed last week that Findlayter’s New Hope Christian Fellowship Church ignored a $100,000 slip-and-fall judgement and was evicted from its building in 2010 over $45,000 in unpaid rent.
Mayor de Blasio inquired about Findlayter after cops arrested him in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, on Feb. 10 for driving with a suspended license. Cops later found the minister had outstanding warrants tied to an October immigration protest.
De Blasio called Deputy Chief Kim Royster to inquire about the preacher and the precinct commander let Findlayter leave, sparing him a night in jail.
On Wednesday, a day after first speaking to The News, Ordde said Findlayter finally paid him the remaining $1,090 he owed.
Findlayter didn’t respond to calls for comment.
But Rev. Herbert Daughtry, who has worked for CUSH in the past, defended the bishop.
“I still believe in him and his integrity,” Daughtry said.
With Barry Paddock
