The saga of Lamor Whitehead, once known as the “Bling Bishop” for his lavish lifestyle and flamboyant jewelry, has come to a seeming close with his sentencing to nine years in federal prison. Whitehead, a Brooklyn pastor, faced justice for a string of frauds, including swindling a single mom out of her life savings. U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield pronounced the punishment following condemnation of Whitehead’s actions as those of a “con man,” according to NPR.
Falling from grace, he quickly became ensnared in legal troubles after claiming to influence New York City Mayor Eric Adams, in a bid to extort a Bronx business owner. While preying on those who looked to him for spiritual guidance, including taking $90,000 from a churchgoing nurse and single mother, Whitehead enjoyed the confines of a six-bedroom house in Paramus, N.J.—which recently drew a bid over $1.9 million at foreclosure—to the victims who were left with little more than betrayal, as NPR detailed. Although his attorney vowed to appeal, Whitehead is entangled in a web of his own making, forced to pay $85,000 in restitution and forfeit $95,000 as well.
In related proceedings, Juwan Anderson, implicated in a robbery at Whitehead’s church during a live-streamed sermon, received a sentence of more than five years behind bars. The New York Daily News reports that this incident saw Whitehead and his wife stripped of their jewelry, initially estimated at $1 million, though later appraised at only $400,000. Anderson has been ordered to pay over $402,000 in restitution, despite protestations over the reported value of the stolen items. “I understand the Bling Bishop is a criminal. I get that,” stated Brooklyn Federal Court Judge William Kuntz, focusing on the severity of invading a sanctuary to commit the stickup.
Whitehead’s story is a stark reminder of the potential for corruption within community pillars. Taking advantage of his role, he pushed the “prosperity gospel”—promising his parishioners wealth in exchange for their donations. As arrests rendered his cohorts in crime accountable, so too has the legal system caught up with Whitehead, culminating with the court’s decision to impose a stiff penalty in response to his transgressions. The New York Daily News captured Judge Kuntz drawing parallels to the tragic 2015 Emanuel AME Church massacre, underscoring the inviolable sanctity of places of worship in America, as he meted out justice to the second of Whitehead’s robbers.
Note: Thank you for visiting our website! We strive to keep you informed with the latest updates based on expected timelines, although please note that we are not affiliated with any official bodies. Our team is committed to ensuring accuracy and transparency in our reporting, verifying all information before publication. We aim to bring you reliable news, and if you have any questions or concerns about our content, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
Leave a Reply