Bishop Lamor Whitehead Convicted of fraud
- Mona King Austin
- Feb 25
- 2 min read
Bishop Lamor Whitehead, AKA the "Bling Bishop" has been convicted on multiple fraud and various other charges including lying to the FBI. The 45-year-old Brooklyn pastor was accused of swindling a church member's elderly mother our of $90,000. Here are the details:
Charges: He was found guilty of the following offenses:
Wire fraud: Two counts.
Attempted wire fraud: One count.
Attempted extortion: One count.
Making false statements: One count.
Maximum Sentences:
Each wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The false statements charge carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison.
Background:
Miller-Whitehead was a pastor at the Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries.
He has a prior record to this, he had served five years in prison for identity theft and grand larceny.
He lived in a $1.6 million mansion in Paramus, New Jersey, and owned several apartment buildings in Hartford, Connecticut.
Crimes Committed:
Stealing from a parishioner: He convinced a parishioner to invest approximately $90,000 of her retirement savings under the guise of helping her purchase a home. Instead, he diverted the funds for personal use, splurging on luxury items.
Extortion Attempt: He attempted to extort $5,000 from a businessman and later sought a $500,000 loan, falsely promising favorable actions from the mayor of New York City in exchange.
Other Incidents:
In July, he made headlines when he was robbed of $1 million in jewelry during a church service.
He also submitted a fraudulent application for a $250,000 business loan, fabricating bank statements.
During an FBI search of his New Jersey mansion, he provided false statements about the existence of a second cellphone.
Verdict and Appeal:
His lawyer plans to appeal the verdict.As U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated, “Whitehead’s reprehensible lies and criminal conduct have caught up with him, as he now stands convicted of five federal crimes and faces time in prison” 3.