Photo credit: New York Times
A flashy Brooklyn pastor nicknamed the “Bling Bishop Lamor Whitehead, has been sentenced to nine years in prison. He was convicted of using a parishioner’s retirement savings and trying to extort a businessman.
He was found guilty of two counts of wire fraud and one count each of attempted wire fraud, attempted extortion, and making false statements to federal law enforcement agents.
The convictions are from three separate schemes.
He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $85,000 in restitution and forfeit $95,000.
US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, said, “Lamor Whitehead is a con man who stole millions of dollars in a string of financial frauds and even stole from one of his own parishioners. He lied to federal agents and again to the Court at his trial. Today’s sentence puts an end to Whitehead’s various schemes and reflects this Office’s commitment to bring accountability to those who abuse their positions of trust.”
One of Whitehead’s attorneys said they plan to appeal.
Whitehead, known for his expensive dressing, was a pastor at the Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministry in Brooklyn. In 2022, he made headlines when he said he and his wife were robbed of $1 million worth of jewelry at their church.
