Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Lying Nun Subpoenaed, No Longer Welcome In Little Italy
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Jul 27, 2010
Modified Jul 27, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Jul 27, 2010
Modified Jul 27, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Mindy LeGrand, a.k.a begging nun "Sister Milindia," is being sought by investigators in a possibly criminal probe. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo subpoenaed the "nun," who was found begging for change in a fake habit, then returning to her Brooklyn home and taking off for Atlantic City.
LeGrand is a member of St. John's Pentecostal of Crown Heights, which has no official accreditation, and was founded by Devernon LeGrand, a convicted rapist and killer to whom Mindy LeGrand is related by marriage. "Church" officials admitted Mindy is not a nun, but one of many women who panhandle for the organization under that guise. Rev. Noconda LeGrand, also a convicted rapist, says the money is being used to pay the church's back taxes. But then he says the building isn't a church, just a family townhouse. In defense of Mindy, he says, "There are many people out there who wear different things for worship. Once they're done with this, they'll see we did nothing wrong."
Whether or not the outfit is found guilty in the eyes of the law, Mindy will have to find new begging grounds to continue the scam. Nick Mesce of Giovanna's Ristorante Italiono in Little Italy told 1010WINS, "She won't be welcome anymore. Now that we know the truth, we will ask her to leave if she does come down." She can also rule out Councilman Peter Vallone Jr.'s district. He said, "Scam artists like this hurt legitimate churches and charities, and police and prosecutors need a tool to combat it, which apparently they don't have."
Those close to Mindy have conflicting opinions about her nun-like behavior. Her daughter said, "When everything comes out, you'll know she did help a lot of people," but neighbors say she never helped anyone. One said, "If she couldn't find a place to park, she would go and block somebody's driveway."
Tagged
andrew cuomo
begging
church
lying nun
mindy legrand
Jaya Saxena
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
New Yorkers are paying $300 million for natural gas they don't even use
A new study found that nearly 2% of the city's natural gas is leaking into the air and causing climate pollution.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET
Early Addition: Eric Adams did not convince a Wisconsin town to build a data center
Because the vote against it was unanimous, here are your early links: Jacket weather, swishing your Guinness, spooky decorations in North Jersey and more.
By
James Ramsay
News
Early Addition: Eric Adams did not convince a Wisconsin town to build a data center
Because the vote against it was unanimous, here are your early links: Jacket weather, swishing your Guinness, spooky decorations in North Jersey and more.
By
James Ramsay
Hit-and-run driver arrested trying to flee to Uzbekistan after deadly crash, NYPD says
By
Brittany Kriegstein
NY measles outbreak more widespread than official count, health officials say
By
Caroline Lewis
A NYC judge brought his gun into court for an ‘experiment’. Now he’s censured.
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .