Looks like Brooklyn’s Bishop Lamor Whitehead is about to cash in his prayers as he faces a federal trial for some shady dealings. While we can’t vouch for his heavenly credit score, the prosecutors seem to have a solid case against him. They’re ready to grill this self-proclaimed man of God and send him packing. In case you forgot, Whitehead is the pastor who claimed he was robbed of a million bucks worth of bling at gunpoint during a church service.
Months later, the feds charged him with wire fraud, attempted extortion, and lying to the law. They say he swindled a parishioner’s savings, promising to invest in a house but splurged on designer gear, a fancy car, and takeout. He even tried to squeeze money out of a Bronx auto shop owner, boasting about his supposed influence with the Mayor.
Now, Whitehead is in Manhattan facing trial for allegedly stealing from a church member’s retirement fund and trying to con a businessman into funding his lavish lifestyle. He spun tales of big bucks and connections to city officials, but it turns out his bank account was emptier than a piggy bank with just six bucks.
Prosecutor Jessica Greenwood called Whitehead a ‘con man’ during her opening statements:
“This is a case about a con man who told lie after lie to victim after victim. He committed crime after crime to make money,” said Greenwood. “He was a friend to the mayor (Adams) and the defendant abused that trust. He lied about how much money he had and his influence…The defendant has expensive tastes, designer clothes and a massive mansion. He’d lie, cheat and steal to keep up with that appearance of wealth.”
The trial is all about how he scammed a parishioner out of $90,000, promising a home and investments but blowing it on luxury items. He also tried to sweet-talk a businessman into a half-million-dollar deal by name-dropping his supposed political connections.
The businessman smelled something fishy and tipped off the feds, leading to Whitehead’s arrest after a lengthy investigation. Looks like this bishop’s prayers might not be enough to save him from the long arm of the law.
Whitehead could potentially spend a whopping 65 years behind bars if found guilty.
