An extravagant Brooklyn pastor popularly known as the “Bling Bishop” has been sentenced to nine years in jail for bank fraud involving one of his own followers.
Lamor Whitehead, a New York pastor known for his lavish lifestyle, was convicted in March of wire fraud, attempted wire fraud, extortion, and giving false statements to federal authorities.
Prosecutors claimed that “Bling bishop”, 45, used his position as a religious leader to defraud people out of money to fund his extravagant lifestyle.
In 2022, Whitehead made headlines when he was robbed at gunpoint while giving a live-stream sermon. The burglars made off with $1 million (£840,000) in watches, diamonds, and emeralds.
The Southern District of New York’s United States Attorney, Damian Williams, referred to Whitehead as a “con man” and stated that the sentence puts an end to his “various schemes.”.
Authorities claim that Whitehead, who oversaw the Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries in Canarsie, New York, tricked individuals by making exaggerated claims and embezzling their money to buy expensive automobiles and clothes.
A victim of his who was also a member of his church handed him $90,000 of her life savings, thinking that the money would be used to buy her a house.
Instead, it went towards paying for clothes and a car. In addition, he tried to extort a Bronx businessman by pretending to have access to New York Mayor Eric Adams and falsifying paperwork to obtain business loans.
“Bishop Whitehead is in my prayers,” the mayor stated on Monday ahead of the sentencing.
Lawyers for Whitehead said they plan to challenge his conviction.
