Popular religious leader and the founder of the World Gospel Music Organization has been accused of luring a 41-year-old Congolese national to his Newark home and then sexually abusing the man afterward.
According to Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II, the incident took place in January 2022 after 75-year-old Albert J. Lewis Jr., promised the alleged victim he could get him a job with the NJ transit on the condition he visited an address in Newark to get more information. It turned out the address was Lewis’ home
After arriving at Lewis’ home, the gospel singer asked the man to disrobe as part of a physical examination to make sure he was fit for the job. According to the Prosecutor, that was when Lewis proceeded to “commit an act of criminal sexual contact upon the victim.”
Lewis was arrested on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, and charged with criminal sexual contact, unlicensed practice of medicine, and the luring of an adult.
Public information indicates Dr. Lewis was released from the Essex County jail on Thursday evening as he awaits trial.
Lewis is the executive director of the Dr. Albert J. Lewis Gospel Hour, described by NJ.com as the second-longest nationally syndicated gospel TV show in the country.
According to reports, Dr. Lewis was recently tapped to lead a citywide gospel music extravaganza for Mayor of Newark – Ras Baraka’s “Team 2022” election campaign through his non-profit World Gospel Music Association.
