A flamboyant Brooklyn pastor known as the “Bling bishop” has been sentenced to nine years in prison for schemes that included preying on the bank account of one of his own followers.
Lamor Whitehead, a New York preacher known for his flashy lifestyle, was found guilty in March of wire fraud, attempted wire fraud, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal investigators.
Prosecutors argued that Whitehead, 45, used his position as a religious leader to fleece people out of money to fund his lavish lifestyle.
Whitehead made headlines in 2022 after he was robbed at gunpoint during a live-streamed sermon. The thieves made off with $1m (£840,000) in watches, diamonds and emeralds.
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, called Whitehead a “con man” and said the sentence marks the end of his “various schemes”.
Pretty much anyone running a church is doing the same shit, no? He just got cocky about it, sounds like. Gotta at least pretend to be humble whilst grifting your flock
Also he wasn’t white.