(TheLibertyRevolution.com)- A flashy Brooklyn pastor who fancies himself a Bishop was arrested by federal agents last Monday on several charges, including allegedly scamming a member of his congregation.
Lamor Whitehead, who has been dubbed the “Bling” Bishop for his penchant for wearing expensive jewelry and Gucci suits and driving a Rolls Royce, was indicted on two counts of wire fraud, one count of extortion, and one count of making material false statements for lying to the FBI, according to federal prosecutors.
If convicted, Whitehead faces a maximum sentence of 65 years behind bars.
Prosecutors allege that Whitehead, 44, swindled one of his parishioners out of $90,000 from her retirement savings with the promise to use the cash to buy her a home. Instead, the so-called “pastor” used that money to enrich himself.
In another scheme, Whitehead allegedly extorted a businessman for $5,000 and asked the man to lend him half a million dollars, promising to “obtain favorable actions by the New York City government” in exchange for the cash as well as interest in real estate deals.
Damien Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York said in a statement that Whitehead’s “campaign of fraud and deceit stops now.”
Whitehead was arraigned in Manhattan federal court, pleading not guilty. He was released on a $500,000 bond.
As part of his bond package, the scheming preacher, who resides in New Jersey, will also be required to restrict his travel to the tri-state area.
After his arraignment, Whitehead’s attorney Dawn Florio said her client denies the charges.
Florio said they would “vigorously” defend against the allegations, claiming that Whitehead was being targeted by the FBI which wants to turn him “from a victim into a villain.”
Florio claimed that the federal case “all stems” from the civil lawsuit Whitehead is currently facing in which his parishioner Pauline Anderson sued Whitehead for stealing her life savings.
Florio said Whitehead would also be “vindicated” in the civil suit.
In 2021, Anderson sued Whitehead alleging that in November 2020, he convinced her to liquidate her life savings and pay him a $90,000 “investment” with the promise that he would buy a home for her and renovate it. The lawsuit alleges that Whitehead used that cash to make a down payment on a $4.4 million home for himself in Saddle River, New Jersey.
