Jermaine Grant died on April 1 after suffering from a 'brief illness' but lawyer Gerald Lefcourt shared that it was unclear whether his client died from the coronavirus

The leader of a Harlem separatist church who siphoned millions of dollars in tithes from members has died at the age of 44.

Jermaine Grant died on April 1 after suffering from a 'brief illness' but lawyer Gerald Lefcourt said that it was unclear whether his client died from the coronavirus.

'Sadly, Mr. Grant did pass away last week,' Lefcourt said. 'We cannot confirm whether his death was COVID-19 related.'

Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ leaders did claim on social media that the leader died from COVID-19, the New York Daily News reports.

'It is a tremendous loss — no question — and unfortunately due to the current restrictions put in place due to the coronavirus, we are prevented from coming together to comfort each other and say goodbye as we so desperately desire to do, leaders of the church said in a letter to the congregation.

In January, Grant was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after he admitted to using church funds to boost his living conditions.

Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ leaders did claim on social media that the 44-year-old died from COVID-19

Prosecutors said the father and a co-conspirator, church treasurer Lincoln Warrington, used money from the church to buy property, vehicles, trips and private-school tuition for his children.

Grant is said to have had his children driving to school in chauffeured Mecedes-Benz from their home in New Jersey, using funds from the church, according to court documents.

Lefcourt praised the former church leader as a 'devoted and committed father and spiritual leader and religious leader.'

But former Israelite members painted Grant in a different light.

In January, Grant was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after he admitted to using church funds to boost his living conditions

'I only wanted him to repent, admit his lies, but you can't mess with God like this for too long,' a former follower said on Facebook. 'Better to be humble always than perpetuate lies in the name of God.'

Grant and Warrington are said to have diverted more than $2million from the group's coffers and failed to report more than $5million in income to the IRS, according to prosecutors.

More than 4000 people have died from the coronavirus in the United States

Church members were required to donate 20 percent of their monthly earnings. When the FBI raided the church in 2018, they left the building with crates of money.

Insiders familiar with the church said that Grant was still active in running the church until his death.

'I feel bad for those affected by his death,' said Barry Pugh, a former church member and a whistleblower who was prepared to testify for prosecutor.

'But he didn't repent. He lied to the congregation. Everything he did afterward was to lie and deceive the congregation.'

The Hebrew Israelite movement was created in the end the of the 19th century and extends well across the United States, with some several hundred thousand members.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, 'there are many sects which refer to themselves with variations of the name Black Hebrew Israelites. Some, but not all, are outspoken anti-Semites and racists.'