A Harlem couple, Tommie and Mara (Campo) Porter, are seeking justice after filing a lawsuit against Jerome Yeiser, a longtime deacon at the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church, claiming he defrauded them out of hundreds of thousands of dollars for home renovations.

The Porters have turned to the Bronx District Attorney’s office, demanding legal action against Yeiser, whom they accuse of orchestrating a massive home renovation scam, the NY Post reports.

The lawsuit alleges that Yeiser, who has served the Abyssinian Baptist Church for decades, promised to oversee a major renovation of the Porters’ $1.44 million Harlem brownstone. Trusted within the church community, Yeiser allegedly convinced the couple to invest nearly $400,000 in the project, with his company, SIVA Real Estate Services.

The Porters’ lawsuit claims that Yeiser consistently asked for more money throughout the renovation process while performing little to no work. They say that each time they raised concerns about the progress, Yeiser offered excuses or simply dodged communication. They claim “to date, $288,283 of this money has been spent on the project, and $194,058 remains unaccounted for,” according to the lawsuit.

Yeiser has been a prominent figure at Abyssinian Baptist Church for years. The church, founded in 1808, is not only one of Harlem’s most historic institutions but also a cornerstone of New York City’s Black community. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who teaches Sunday school at Abyssinian, has deep ties to the congregation.

Abyssinian Baptist Church issued a public statement regarding the lawsuit saying that Yeiser completely confessed to taking the Porters’ money because he had tax problems. 😫

Bih, betta have their money!