'Bling' Bishop Found Guilty Of Fraud, Extortion, Lying
The Bentley-driving Bishop Lamor Whitehead was found guilty by a jury of stealing $90,000 from the mother of a parishioner and other crimes. Bishop Lamor Whitehead, known for his extravagant lifestyle and expensive Bentley cars, has been convicted of multiple counts of fraud, extortion, and lying. The charges stem from stealing the life savings of a parishioner's mother and attempting to extort a businessman to fund his lavish lifestyle. Whitehead's lawyer, Dawn Florio, plans to appeal the verdict and face up to 45 years in prison. The trial included testimony from a single mother he swindled $90,000 from by convincing her he could help her own a home, despite her poor credit. Feds also alleged that Whitehead promised a Bronx businessman $500,000 to use his connections to Mayor Adams for a real estate investment.
Published : 2 months ago by Peter Senzamici in Auto
Bishop Lamor Whitehead, known for owning multiple pricey Bentley automobiles, his flashy suits and jewelry — some of which was stolen in a now-infamous livestreamed robbery — has been convicted on of a number of charges, including stealing the life savings of a parishioner's mother and attempting to extort a businessman to fund his extravagant lifestyle. Jurors found Whitehead, 46, guilty on all charges in Manhattan Federal Court Monday, including multiple counts of fraud, extortion and lying, according to court records.
"The story isn't over....It's just a new chapter," Whitehead posted on social media Tuesday morning. "Stay tune [sic]... God is still God... They can all laugh now and talk." Whitehead's lawyer, Dawn Florio, told the Daily News that they will be appealing the verdict.
The trial began Feb. 26 and included testimony from the single mother he swindled $90,000 from — her entire life savings — by convincing her he could help her own her own home, despite her poor credit. “I trusted him,” the mother and nurse, Pauline Anderson, testified Feb. 27, the Daily News reported. “He said he had real estate experience. He was a man of God, he prayed for me in earnest. I believe in God, so I believed he would honestly help me to get this house.”
The trial showed evidence that the Bishop instead used the funds for more Bling — including designer clothing, a BMW, and other indulgences, according to prosecutors. Feds also contended that Whitehead promised a Bronx businessman that, for $500,000, he could use his close ties to Mayor Adams to help grease the wheels on a supposed real estate investment they would then embark on together, federal prosecutors said.
Adams, who was not accused of any wrongdoing in the case, was referred to euphemistically by Whitehead in repeated communications presented during the trial. "I’ll take it from there. I’ll deal with the City Council, I’ll deal with the Assembly over there, and I’ll deal with the Mayor’s office. . . . . But we gotta have ownership. I gotta be able to say, ‘Yo, yo [nickname for the Official], I own this. This is what’s goin on,’” Whitehead told Belmonte. In text messages sent around May 2022, Whitehead repeatedly pressed Belmonte to wire him $500,000, saying that the money was urgently needed because “the meeting has been sent [read: ‘set’] for Friday with the [Official] and we are still struggling to get things done! What are we really doing?” “I’m preparing for this meeting today so I’m glad that you really wanted to sabotage me and my business. One day you will really need me! And the meeting I set up today with you know how [read: ‘who’]," Whitehead texted Belmonte. Whitehead also was convicted of presenting fake bank statements to secure a $250,000 loan and lied to federal investigators — including a claim that he did not own a second cell phone.
"Whitehead carried out several duplicitous schemes in order to receive funds from his victims," FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said. "Additionally, when speaking with authorities, Whitehead consciously chose to mislead and lie to them."
He faces up to 45 years in prison when he is sentenced on July 1. The bishop first became world-famous for a live-streamed robbery where gunmen burst into his rented Canarsie event space during a sermon, robbing him and his wife of what police said was over a million dollars of jewelry. Two of the gunmen were caught back in 2022, police said
Topics: Christianity, Fraud, Corruption, Extortion, Kidnapping, Organized Crime