Nationwide — Bishop Lamor Whitehead, who is a Brooklyn pastor known for his flashy lifestyle, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for fraud and extortion charges. He reportedly stole $90,000 from members of his church.According to prosecutors, Whitehead promised to help a parishioner buy a home but instead took her retirement savings for his own use on luxury items and personal expenses. The victim lost everything she had worked for, facing $40,000 in penalties and legal fees for early withdrawal from her retirement fund.
“Lamor Whitehead is a conman,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams told PIX11. “[He] is a career conman and liar who has been committing frauds for over 20 years to finance his extravagant lifestyle.”
Despite the conviction, Whitehead maintains his innocence, according to his attorney Dawn Florio, who plans to appeal the decision.
The bishop was also involved in other schemes dating back to 2017, including falsifying bank statements to secure a $250,000 business loan and extorting $5,000 from a businessman with promises of political favors.
Court records reveal Whitehead has a history of legal troubles spanning two decades, which include attempting to bribe an officer, using stolen identities to buy cars, and driving a Range Rover purchased fraudulently.
Prosecutors highlighted his lack of remorse, citing instances where he lied to FBI agents during a raid on his New Jersey mansion.
In addition to his prison term, Whitehead faces three years of supervised release and must pay $85,000 in restitution plus forfeit $95,000.
In a separate incident in 2022, Whitehead made news when he was robbed at gunpoint during a live-streamed church service, with the robbers reportedly stealing $1 million in jewelry. One suspect involved in the robbery was later killed by law enforcement in New Jersey.