Bishop Lamor Whitehead, the flamboyant minister who was robbed at gunpoint during a live sermon, has been taken into custody on federal accusations of fraud and extortion.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office reports that the head of the Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries church in Brooklyn was accused on Monday with “defrauding one of his parishioners out of part of her retirement savings, attempting to extort and defraud a businessman, and lying to the FBI.”
The arrest comes after the parishioner’s accusations were exposed in a lengthy piece with The City.
“As we allege today, Lamor Whitehead abused the trust placed in him by a parishioner, bullied a businessman for $5,000, then tried to defraud him of far more than that, and lied to federal agents,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, according to a DOJ press release. “His campaign of fraud and deceit stops now.”
FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll echoed the same sentiments saying: “As we allege today, Whitehead carried out several duplicitous schemes in order to receive funds from his victims. Additionally, when speaking with authorities, Whitehead consciously chose to mislead and lie to them. If you are willing to attempt to obtain funds through false promises or threats, the FBI will ensure that you are made to face the consequences for your actions in our criminal justice system.”
Lamor Whitehead has been adamant that he is not the swindler dressed in designer robes and jewelry that he has been accused of being, to the point where he is frantically suing those who claim otherwise. However, the reputation he has been working so hard to avoid persists.
As a result, Whitehead is now accused of stealing almost $90,000 in retirement funds from a parishioner in order to purchase luxury items for himself.
In addition, Lamor Whitehead is accused of attempting to extort $5,000 from a businessman as well trying to get a loan of $500,000 from the same businessman.
In exchange “for favorable actions from the New York City government, which Whitehead knew he could not obtain,” according to prosecutors, who also allege that he also lied about having multiple cellphones during the execution of a search warrant.
However, in an Instagram live titled “Not Guilty” the Bishop has maintained his innocence. “I was arrested yesterday and just because you’re arrested it doesn’t make you guilty, it’s the way of the world,” said the Bishop.