Lamor Whitehead, the infamous “bling bishop” of Brooklyn, New York, known for flaunting his luxury items, has been convicted of fraud charges after allegedly exploiting a parishioner’s trust to the tune of $90,000.
Following a two-week trial, Whitehead was found guilty of multiple charges, including making false statements to the FBI, attempted extortion, and wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of New York.
The charges stem from allegations that Whitehead manipulated a 58-year-old parishioner, Pauline Anderson, into giving him $90,000 from her retirement fund under the pretense of helping her purchase a new home.
Instead, he allegedly used the funds for personal expenses at luxury stores like Louis Vuitton, leaving Anderson feeling betrayed by someone she once trusted as “a man of God.”
Prosecutors further accused Whitehead of attempting to extort $5,000 from businessman Brandon Belmonte, later seeking a larger sum of $500,000 and promising favors from New York City Mayor Eric Adams in return, despite knowing he couldn’t fulfill such promises.
During his testimony, Whitehead claimed that an FBI agent hinted at targeting Mayor Adams but asserted that he refused to cooperate as an informant, according to reports.
Whitehead gained notoriety in 2022 when gunmen stole $1 million in jewelry during a livestreamed service at his Brooklyn church, Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries.
He recently made headlines again by offering to officiate the funeral of one of the suspects, shot by U.S. marshals in January.
In response to the conviction, Whitehead hinted at forthcoming revelations in several Instagram posts, asserting his intention to appeal while suggesting that the FBI targeted him for his refusal to implicate Mayor Adams.
As the legal saga unfolds, the fallout from Whitehead’s conviction and his allegations against law enforcement officials could further fuel the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the case and its entanglements with prominent political figures.
