Corrupt Pastor 'Bling Bishop' of Brooklyn Given 9-Year Sentence for Deception and Blackmail, According to US Prosecutor
In March, Lamor Whitehead was convicted of multiple fraud charges, including wire fraud, attempted wire fraud, extortion, and making false statements to federal authorities. His crimes spanned across three distinct scams.
As part of his sentence, the 45-year-old New Jersey resident is to spend time in prison, followed by three years of supervision, and pay $85,000 in restitution while forfeiting $95,000. These consequences are based on official announcements from the US attorney's office and court documentation.
Damian Williams, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, commented that Whitehead is a deceitful individual who swindled millions through financial frauds, even defrauding one of his own church members. He was found to have lied to federal agents and the court during his trial. Williams added that this sentence marked the end of Whitehead's schemes and bolstered the office's commitment to ensuring those who exploit trust are held accountable.
One of Whitehead's defense attorneys has indicated plans for an appeal. CNN has reached out to the lawyer for comment.
Known for his luxury suits and flashy jewelry, Whitehead served as a pastor at the Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries in Brooklyn. He made news in 2022 when he claimed that he and his wife were robbed of one million dollars' worth of jewels from their church.
Prosecutors maintained that Whitehead conned one of his churchgoers by persuading her to invest about $90,000 of her retirement funds with him for the purpose of helping her buy a home, but he instead splurged the money on luxury items and personal expenses, as stated in an indictment.
Whitehead also extorted a businessman for $5,000 and later tried to coerce the man into loaning him half a million dollars and granting him a stake in real estate transactions in exchange for undue favors from the New York City government—favors he knew he couldn't deliver, according to the indictment.
To seal the deal, Whitehead enlisted the help of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, as mentioned in a March news release from the US attorney's office.
Furthermore, Whitehead submitted a fraudulent loan application for $250,000, which included phony bank statements claiming he had millions in the bank and hundreds of thousands in monthly income, according to the US attorney's office news release. This release also stated that Whitehead had submitted similar bogus applications to multiple other financial institutions, defrauding them of millions.
Lastly, when FBI agents were executing a search warrant outside his New Jersey mansion, Whitehead falsely declared that he possessed only one phone, when in reality, he actually had two, as per the indictment.
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During the trial, Whitehead's defense team argued on behalf of [us], stating that the evidence against their client was not sufficient to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
After serving his prison sentence, Whitehead will be under the supervision of the US probation office for three years, ensuring that he adheres to certain conditions and requirements to reintegrate back into society.
