Brooklyn pastor faces charges of federal fraud and racketeering

Bishop Lamor Whitehead, who lives in Brooklyn, received national attention this summer when he was robbed during a live-streamed church service. He is now charged with telefraud and extortion in a separate case.

Federal prosecutors said Whitehead, who is 45, is charged with two counts of wire fraud, one count of racketeering and one count of making false statements for crimes he allegedly committed against a member of his church and a businessman.

Whitehead is the leader of the Leaders of Tomorrow International Churches in New York City. He is known for his expensive clothes, cars and other displays of wealth. Gun thieves broke into Whitehead and his wife’s church in July and stole $1 million worth of jewelry.

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After this happened, people said Whitehead lived too well. Some people even wondered if the robbery was real. However, two men were later arrested and charged with the robbery.

After learning he was being sued by the federal government, Whitehead said within 15 minutes Instagram video posted on Tuesday that he was innocent.

In the video, Whitehead sits in front of two smiley face portraits of himself and says: “The bishop is not guilty. And I’m going to fight it. I have the right legal team, and more importantly, I have God.”

‘Nothing has changed. I’m still the same bishop’, he said. ‘And I’ll say it again. Just because you were arrested doesn’t make you guilty. Don’t drink the Kool-Aid. I tell you all. You already drank it. Don’t drink it anymore. Give it time.”

Bishop Lamor Whitehead jumped on Instagram moments ago:

“I’m going to tell you today that the bishop isn’t guilty… Remember this, just because you’re under arrest doesn’t make you guilty.

Don’t drink the Kool-Aid. pic.twitter.com/sIY5sCWDwW

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) December 20, 2022

Prosecutors say Whitehead used threats and lies to get people to give him money, which he then used to buy himself expensive things.

Whitehead allegedly persuaded one of his parishioners to invest approximately $90,000 of her retirement savings between April 2020 and July 2021. estate companies.

The charges against Whitehead say he used her money for himself instead. In a separate case, the indictment alleges that Whitehead forced an unnamed businessman to give him large sums of money.

NYC Bishop Lamor Whitehead was arrested by federal agents and charged with fraud, extortion and lying to the FBI pic.twitter.com/TqVakqfCz6

— AuxGod (@AuxGod_) December 19, 2022

Whitehead allegedly told the businessman in the spring of 2022 to give the church leader $500,000 and a share in some real estate deals. In return, the man was told he would get “favorable actions” from the New York City government that would help both Whitehead and himself.

Prosecutors said Whitehead also lied to FBI agents when they executed a search warrant. The pastor allegedly lied when he said he only had the one phone he had on him at the time.

Whitehead did indeed have a second telephone, which he often used. He even texted that it was “my other phone” right after telling the officers he had no other phones.

There are three counts of wire fraud and extortion, and each can get you up to 20 years in prison. If you make false statements that matter, you could face up to five years in prison… Just follow us on Lee Daily for more news like this.