Brooklyn’s prominent “Bling Bishop” may be trading in his gold rings and flashy clothes for an orange jumpsuit.
You may remember Pastor Lamor Whitehead from a few years ago, when he made headlines after being robbed at gunpoint during a live-streamed sermon.
The thieves made off with roughly $1 million in jewelry from Whitehead and his wife. Shortly thereafter, Whitehead was arrested on initial charges that he defrauded his parishioners – claims which he denied at the time.
Though the robbery seemed suspicious given the charges, no evidence ever emerged that Whitehead was in on the heist, as some speculated.
However, it soon became clear that the pastor was in deep legal trouble for other reasons. In the wake of the robbery, further accusations about Whitehead's behavior began to surface.
All That Glitters...
Earlier this month, a jury unanimously and swiftly found him guilty of wire fraud, attempted extortion, and lying to a federal agent, among other charges that threaten to put him away for decades.
Whitehead was accused of lying to his parishioners, including convincing one woman to give him $90,000 from her retirement fund so he could assist her in buying a home, which then was spent on luxury goods for Whitehead and his wife.
In another incident, Whitehead allegedly tried to convince an auto body shop owner in the Bronx to lend him half a million dollars with the promise of future favors from New York City Mayor Eric Adams, whom Whitehead said he had a connection to. He has also been accused of misleading the FBI.
“He was lying about the access, he was lying about the influence, he was lying about all of it,” said prosecutor Derek Wikstrom in closing arguments.
In just three hours, the jury found Whitehead guilty on five charges for what attorney Damian Williams described as his “reprehensible lies and criminal conduct,” and he now faces upwards of 45 years in prison.
Fleecing the Flock
Pastor Whitehead's conviction is opening up a dialogue on the trust parishioners put in their church leadership – and how easily that trust can be betrayed.
The woman that Whitehead defrauded to the tune of $90,000, 58-year-old Pauline Anderson, says that she had full trust in Whitehead, given his position as a spiritual and community leader. This was the man who presided over her son’s wedding, after all.
“He was a man of God,” she explained on the stand. “He prayed for me in earnest. I believe in God, so I believed he would honestly help me… I believed him as the leader of his church.”
Nevertheless, Whitehead maintains his innocence. He claims that this was all a politically motivated witch hunt – and says that God remains on his side.
Whitehead is far from the first church leader to betray the trust of their parishioners, although this appears to be a particularly egregious case.
What do you make of the conviction? When it comes to men of God taking advantage of their flock, how harsh should the punishment be?
68 comments
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Alan Meunier
This is EXACTLY what they mean when they say "Do NOT take the Lords name in vain"...
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Who is ‘they’? Pronouns confuse me these days. How do you know this is ‘exactly’ what the above mentioned ‘they’ mean?
Jesus H. Christ on a pair of rusty crutches.
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Kathryn Diane Taft
Hahaha, I'm rollin'! Jesus would be crackin' up too, "rusty crutches", lmao, hilarious and so true. Here's a lil tidbit for ya Doc; the original text of the Bible didn't contain pronouns; they were added in translation. The Bible reads very differently when you remove them as it was intended. I found it extremely enlightening...
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Kathryn Diane Taft
That doesn't even exist. Um, hello stupid christians, IT'S GOD; he doesn't care about words, expressions, definitions or popular opinion in any area of our lives! God? Get offended? Right. It's God. Let me say it again for the stubborn brainwashed masses, ready? IT'S GOD. Rumor has it He doesn't make mistakes so yeah, no. Word.
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Ealdormon Piparskeggr Robinson
Personally, I think all the Mega-Corporation "Churches" need a deep and thorough audit.
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Gregory Ingram
100% agree lets start with Kenneth Copeland.
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Timothy C Stone
Copeland, what a demonic creep.
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Kathryn Diane Taft
Gentlemen, I disagree. You're judging them and decided you're right. Maybe you are; it's irrelevant. THEY JUST NEED TO SEE THE TRUTH. How? dunno. All I know is that I did. The entire world has NO IDEA that God really is PERFECT. Think about that. If anyone believes anything they read in the Bible they don't even understand God at all....
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Ealdormon Piparskeggr Robinson
Actually, an audit is a method to uncover evidence from which to make a judgement.
I really do not care what someone else believes, so long as their actions inspired by such cause no harm.
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Dr. Darryl G Dykes
Unfortunately audits only uncover what is in the financial books. Numbers in categories and line items only show where the money went. Fraud is a tricky deceiving game. A payment maybe for $50,000 roof repair that actually only cost $10,000 with the balance as a kick back. So books only show what the writer wants to be seen.
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James Riggle-Johnson
I think my favorite line is “THIS IS A WITCH HUNT!” How that phrase is used so easily while simultaneously claiming God is on their side. Christians say that it’s mans depravity, gay and lesbians, trans, drag queens, that are ruining America. I say it’s the religious institutions that claim to preach the word of God while lying, cheating, and steeling from people. Then, when you point out the hypocrisy, they cry religious persecution.
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Thomas P. Davis
I believe the Bible says that the wheat and the tares grow together. Then in the end He will send His angels to do the harvesting. Only God knows the hearts (motives) of the individuals. Will they come from one denomination, NO, He says my sheep I have of MANY folds. He calls them the remnant because they have the characteristics of the Church He formed while on the earth. Not the one that evolved through compromise. .
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He Who Breathes
Humans are prone to imperfection.
Say it ain't true...
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Lena Marie Adams
I am saddened to learn that a Preacher has done this despicable act towards the Women in his Church. It is sad some Men prey on Women. God prevailed and punished him justly. Hopefully it's a lesson learned.
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Lionheart
Oh, is God real then? Which one would that be? Mankind has created so many. I bet the one you believe in is the real one. 🤭
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Rev. BH
Some people believe in (a) god, some don't. Some believe in ghosts, UFOs and Chicken Soup for the Soul, and some don't. Why does another's beliefs matter to you, Lionheart. Be accepting.
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Lionheart
Because I like facts before I will believe anything that people like to push at me. For instance, some people still believe the Earth is flat, but we all know that’s not true because if it was, cats would’ve pushed everything over the edge by now 🤭
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
If it isn’t evidence-based it’s very often delusional,balways so with religion.
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Eric Laspe
People act on the basis of their beliefs. Look at Hamas. That’s why the beliefs of others matter.
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Timothy C Stone
One God, many faces. Many paths, one destination.
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Lionheart
Do you have any real demonstrable evidence to support your claim that there is a God, or even a destination after this life?
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Thomas P. Davis
Do you have any evidence that there is not? There is a sermon online called Paschal's wager. In Cliff note version it says it cost nothing to believe, there is no risk involved and the rewards are great. If it is true that there is no God and no life after here and I die, I lose nothing. BUT if there is a God and a life after here, you have lost much.
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Lionheart
It’s actually, Pascal’s wager, coined by Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) which is a philosophical argument suggesting it’s best to hedge your bets to believe in a God just in case there is, than not to believe.
Thank you for your comment, Sir Thomas. I of course have no evidence whatsoever to prove there is no God, Fairies, Elves, Santa Clause, Loch Ness Monster, Wotan, Sasquatch, Vishnu, Thor, et al.
Logic, reason, and critical thought tells me they don’t exist. Do you believe in all of these I’ve listed, and if not, why not?
I have used the same logic and reason to not believe they are real as possibly you have. It’s just that I don’t believe in one more of those, than yourself, ie God.
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Thomas P. Davis
I don't believe in fairies or elves. Being raised Irish Catholic we celebrated Saint Nicholos Day every year. He was a bishop that went door to door doing good things for the people. That finally evolved from Jolly old saint Nicholos to the Santa we have today. My family quit celebrating Xmas in our third year of marriage due to the fact that it is a pagan festival and did our gift giving on Dec. 6 which my old church celebrated that bishop's day. Nessie the Loch Ness Monster, who knows? I have seen several documentaries over the years about it, the same goes for Sasquatch. They other names I never heard of, except for maybe Thor. I don't spend much time researching that which would not lead me closer to God. Life is too short.
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Lionheart
I’m curious as to what logic you used to not believe in Fairies or Elves, yet made a decision to believe in something called a God, which has as much demonstrable evidence of its reality as fairies and elves, causing it to be just as mythical?
Also, what logic did you use to believe in your particular god and not in any of the others of other faiths? Did you look at other faiths gods, or just the one you were indoctrinated to believe in from your family?
If your family had also believed in fairies and told you they were real, would I be right in saying you’d believe it, and if not, why not?
Thank you for your comment. 🤗
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Thomas P. Davis
I guess because I was never into Elves or Fairies. The more I fed upon the bible and other historical evidence and things that have happened in my life, my faith in God has grown. I am not in the faith that I was raised in for 29 years and I am not in the faith that I was in for 2+ years after that. Although the faith that I was in for 29 years taught that give us your youth for the first five years and we will have them for life. I was taught to believe in Santa Claus and his little elves at the north pole but for some reason never believed it.
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Lionheart
I know what you mean. I was never into believing in a talking ass, or a talking snake, or a God that was into infanticide, and genocide, or fairies and elves. For some reason I never believed in any of them. Thank you for your reply.
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Thomas P. Davis
I too was like you at one point in my life. I could not understand why a God that was to be described as LOVE would have entire population wiped off the face of the earth. Then About 3 decades ago I read where it was in His mercy that He had that done. Since He is all knowing, He knew that those individuals could live forever and never change their corrupt lifestyles. So somewhat like us having to live in a world that gets under our skin at times. He laid them to rest early, so they did not need to suffer any longer. Plus, it was merciful for His children too, since they would not be harassed by them any longer.
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Lionheart
I find that argument to be one of an apologists view. Those that would have been drowned, if it really happened, which I seriously doubt and does not conform with any geological evidence, would have included babies, infants, toddlers, young children, and pregnant mothers. Any omnipotent god worthy of the name, especially if it had been me, would have taken care of the perps causing havoc and mayhem at the time.
Thank you for your comment, Sir Thomas.
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Thomas P. Davis
If that God would have taken care of them then we would be nothing more than robots.. that is what free will and love is all about. We asked for this world to be how it is not God. I don't know you, but I am sure if you were in charge, you too would have lot's of enemies. I do know me a little, if I was in charge there would be no TV, cell phone, computer, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, no meat eating, girls would wear long dresses, no junk food, etc. every body by now is thanking God that I'm not in charge. Free will is a good thing. Take it away and we have persecution.
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Lionheart
We still have persecution though…right? It’s just the way mankind is, and always will be. I’m actually grateful to the science of computers and cell phones. They allow me to stay in touch real time with my family 5,000 miles away.
I think between us, as Gods, we could make a better stab at it than the previous guy. When we do, let’s not go with the slavery, and stoning edict. I’d definitely go with the water into wine trick though, especially if it’s a nice fruity Merlot. 🤭
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James Mounts
I wonder why God hated these women so much He allowed this to happen. I don't know who is worse, Him or the preacher.
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Timothy C Stone
Stupid reply, man has free will. God does not control our actions. Your comment is like the idiots that believe a tornado hitting a Missouri town is God's punishment for gay marriage.
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Lionheart
All replies are good here, Sir Timothy. We are just one big happy family here in this blog.
One could look at your reply, implying there is a God, could also be classed as a stupid claim being as there is no demonstrable evidence to support it, but we welcome all friendly replies. 🤗
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Thomas P. Davis
In addition to your reply, many years ago the editor of a local newspaper wrote an article in the newspaper about all the tragedy in New Orleans when hurricane Katrina went through. All the Christians claimed it was because of their lifestyle. The editor who was not a Christian made the comment that God must be a terrible judge of character, since San Fransico was much worse, and He must also be a terrible aim since there were many Christian churches and Christian churches that were destroyed.
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Rev. BH
"God" has "allowed" horrible things to happen to us all from time immemorial. Either he hates us, could give a shit, went senile or doesn't exist. Which do you find more comforting?
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Thomas P. Davis
God allowing is not the same as what He desires for His children. Unfortunately, or fortunately, He gave us free will. He did not make us robots. A robot can't give or receive love. Which one of us would enjoy a spouse that all they ever said is " yes dear, whatever you say dear". God wanted Adam and Eve to have life immortal free from pain and suffering, they chose for selfish reasons to disobey. God wanted His children to live under a theocracy, but they were in love with the pagan world and their kings. So, God gave them the desires of their own heart and now we suffer under man's political system. In the story of Job, it was not God that took all of Job's earthly belongings away, it was not God that killed all of Jobs children, it was not God that inflicted Job from head to toe with boils, it was satan. I have heard it claimed that the only reason that satan did not kill his wife too, was so she would remain alive and nag him to death. Scripture says He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly and He is not willing that any should perish.
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Rev. BH
God wanted this for us, god wanted that for us, but because one couple ate an apple, he denied all his desires to all of us to this very day. What a loving, forgiving dude.
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Thomas P. Davis
When that couple ate that fruit (nowhere does it say it was an apple, some theorize that it was an Osage orange because it is so hideous looking.) Adam gave dominion of this planet over to satan. The bible makes it clear that satan is the god of this world. 2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. God has not denied us anything. Joh 10:10 I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. Because of Adam and Eves sin we were doomed to die. God sent His son to this earth (with the risk that He would fail and never be able to return to heaven) to pay that penalty for that sin, so we could once again live as He intended. But satan is not at all happy and as the first part of John 10 says. Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: He could have made us all robots instead of giving us free will, but what enjoyment does a robot get out of life. How would you like someone to love you only because they were programmed to love you? So, with our free will we can choose which spirit to follow, satans.....Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. or God's...Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. BUT He is not going to force us.
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Nicholas J Page
Well some ones been caught out for fraud and tax evasion enjoy your 45 years in prison you deserve every minute of your sentence and you wont be able to wear your bling serves you right.
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Alexander Arends
His wife could well continue his ministry. As for him, prison is is not the answer. He needs to be with his Lord, the sooner the better. I can't think of many things more disgusting.
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David Arthur Lewis
So yeah. This is what a Christian bishop does. Fleece the sheep.
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Paul Johnson
I guess he missed where it said leaders would be held to a higher standard. Not knowing anymore about the case I guess we will leave it upto the worlds way. We war against the flesh, the world, and Satan. I guess we will leave it up to the judge who will be fair; let's just call him God.
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Colleen McAllister
Just another case of a preacher getting too big for his britches. Very sad situation. This is why my church has never let the pastor handle the money. And as soon as an ego shows, the pastor goes. It is a shame that these situations make the news, but a humble pastor is rarely mentioned. The humble Pastors are far greater in number than the scoundrels.
This man deserves the full punishment.
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Rev. BH
"one woman gave him $90,000 from her retirement fund so he could assist her in buying a home" What a nonsensical con. How do some folks become so tragically gullible? It's the mindset abused by by cult leaders. "Let go, let me."
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ServantOfJudgement
Good he was busted. He'll definitely have followers think he's innocent, the super brainwashed just won't see him as a con man.
We've got a real sleazy one, preacher of a local industrial church that's been caught masturbating in Walmart parking lots a few times and drunk driving. Looked like a snake since I first saw his commercials in the 90s. His followers definitely stick by his nasty butt. Same thing always, he was framed, Satan is out to get him. Bla bla bla.
Be wise Christians, these are just corrupted men and women, same as the rest of us.
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Russel A. Kester
When a pastor takes advantage of her flock the conviction should be harsh because she works with the most vulnerable amongst us.
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Kevin Oconnell
Wasn't it Jesus that forgave us of our own sin , than we should be as Jesus and also forgive. Extremely hard sometimes to see it but ! We must and move on with life God will take care of this.
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Father Frederick
Does not matter the religion or position, when a human has been raised in the position of power, and sees they can benefit from words supposedly directed by the lord, then the mental and physical fraud will occur. It's a weakness of the flesh.
To the perpetrator it is the bite of the apple offered by the snake. To the victim it's often blind trust that the person means well and their tithe will somehow help a cause.
We only know of the Jim Baker, Brother Stair, Gene Scott, and others because of the notoriety. At the smaller level, there have been countless small churches which have witnessed what is called "penny fraud".
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Mark Hannon
The Bakker's had a very nice dog house and took care of their dog. I think they spent money on a gold toilet, though, that's not good.
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Donald J Rothschild Jr
What’s really appalling is that his church (which is actually a storefront church) is in one of the lowest income areas of Brooklyn, NY. And he broke their trust and fleeced his congregation over the years.
The authorities should start auditing every single religious organization to see that they are doing the right thing with the “contributions” they get from their members. And, of course, strip all of them from their tax free status and let them pay taxes like ever other business. Because in the grand scheme of things, they are a business.
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James Mounts
I agree with your sentiments, but your solution to have government audit churches would serve only to increase the size of our already enormous government. Also, it would be near impossible for the auditors to determine for what purpose the money was intended. Your idea to treat them all like businesses - who must maintain records - would help, but the real solution is for the contributors to take it upon themselves to find out how the money is being used. Even in religion, trust but verify is good policy. As for the tax-exempt status, I agree. Our politicians too often use the tax code to encourage or discourage behavior. We pay taxes to support the government. Any other use of the code is incorrect. There should be NO exemptions.
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Tareq Asfour
Another fake preacher
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Rev Ned
Maybe he’ll get the Florida Orange feller as his cell mate.
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Ministress Dina Rose
I believe you reap what you sow.
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Christopher Michael Norton-Beavers
"Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammo!"
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Donald Thomas
Aloha, while I appreciate the information regarding this false prophet, it would do my old heart some good to see articles about ministers who are doing clean and righteous works from Brooklyn NY. While I have lived in Hawaii since 1981, I am also originally from Brooklyn NY. Since 1980 I have been listed in the Guinness Book for the Longest Sermon done at the Tree of Life School in Harlem NY. Before the concept of Minority Health Disparities was formally recognized by the US Government, I was breaking records in public health education as well as sports nutrition.I am straight out of Brownsville Brooklyn NY. I don't have prison records-I have world records. I am not a three times loser, I am a three time world record holder. All in the name of health and what the various scriptures have to say on the subjects of health, longevity and herbs (Philosophy of Divine Nutrition).It's not the false prophets and preachers that concerns me, it's the people willing to follow and give publicity to the false preachers over the ones who are doing good works. For the record my sermon was 93 hrs and I never raised an offering or passed the plate. https://newjumpswing.com/pages/guinness-book-world-record
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Evone Payton Banks (Minister non denominational)
This one hurts because I thought he was in trouble at first until I kept replaying the clip and my criminal justice brain kicked it. After that my discernment said something else was wrong with this. If he defrauded his congregation.. doesn't that mean any wedding performed under him may also come into question as he did get paid to officiate?
Churches have enough on their plate let alone having to deal with scandals that closes the doors to people who Love GOD in that faith. I'm just a sheep of another pasture. It hurts because I love The Most High GOD.
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Jill Ramelot
I can appreciate your concern about marriages, but as long as he was appropriately ordained under his state law, marriage certificates he signed would stand.
Each state has different laws regarding who is authorized to sign marriage certificates. The actual "wedding ceremony" completely superfluous, it's the state (or county) issued marriage license that makes the marriage legal. This is why it's now very difficult to become legally ordained to sign marriage certificates in Las Vegas, which bills itself as "The wedding capital of the world." Apparently too many of the numerous wedding chapels in Vegas were operated by people who were not legally ordained, and after finding out their (sometimes long-standing) marriage was not legal, several couples sued Clark County and the state of Nevada and won. Now ministers who perform legal weddings in Clark County must jun through a lot of hoops to acquire - and maintain - the legal standing required to sign and file marriage certificates.
Sadly, too many couples don't understand the legal steps required to marry under the law (as opposed to under God). Too many think they just get a marriage license and have a ceremony, without considering that it's the signatures on and filing with the proper government agency of the marriage certificate that makes the marriage legal. As I mentioned, the ceremony, if any, is not the wedding, the license is.
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Evone Payton Banks (Minister non denominational)
Truth.. but I was coming from the financial standpoint. If you're financially being sued and part of that was marrying. It would make couples nervous as to who married them and the cost of officiating being legal. And yes laws are different in every state and las Vegas marriage laws are more relaxed. Blessings Ase
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Harold Kent Brown
You reap what you sow
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Landonia Hicks-Luke
Amen 🙏🏾 you surely do! He had no business at all hiding behind Our God to scam people for money!! He will get what he deserves if not in this lifetime but he will see this again and then he will have to beg God to have mercy on his soul!!
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Ulc Who
Well you know what they say, Jonah. Go where the Lord sends you. In this case, he's the reverend of Cell Block "C". :)
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Nathaniel Joseph Merritt
I think it's likely that most of you are too young to have ever read the famous line, "Religion is the final refuge of the scoundrel." Religion -organized, disorganized, traditional, nontraditional- is swarming with every sort of flimflam artist and conman. Americans are the most religious people on the planet. As well as the most gullible when it comes to 'holy' men claiming they have seen a Vision or heard a Voice or had (drumroll please) a Divine Revelation. Americans keep sending billions of dollars to TV preacher quacks and all manner of fake 'ministries' all over the world. These pitiable folks are desperate to hear from their silent god (who lives somewhere in another 'dimension') so they throw their money at anyone who claims to be able to give a sure and certain Word from their glorious Lord. I used to feel badly for such losers in the game of life. Now I simply shake my head and pass on by. Trying to reason with the credulous, the gullible, the superstitious, is pointless. These folks are True Believers and cannot be reasoned with. So, religious hucksters will always be with us, so long as poor desperate people send rich pretenders their hard-earned cash.
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Ulc Who
Typical negro behavior (TNB) Reverend "bling bling" almost got his black you know what capped in da hood.
Aren't we tiring of hearing the same old, same old chorus sung by our criminal element: It's a witch hunt; This is fraud; God is on my side.
Dr. Hauck, you are 100% correct. God isn't on a side! There's no side, it's GOD. Hello FREE WILL. Does anyone truly grasp the meaning of free will? And duh; it's GOD. Like He messed up and made these ones better than those ones and now chooses sides. It constantly amazes me how ignorant and brainwashed religious people are...
Thank you Robert, exactly what I was going to say. 'witch hunt, fraud', "politically motivated"!? Everything but 'fake news'. Lock up the money grubbing charlatan. If I believed in hell I would believe they have a special place for this creep.