Popular Pastor Sentenced To Nine Years For Defrauding His Church Members

Bishop Lamor Whitehead, the head of the Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries in Canarsie, New York, has been sentenced to nine years in prison.

The flamboyant pastor was found guilty of wire fraud, attempted wire fraud, and attempted extortion. His conviction stems from a series of fraudulent activities that have left many of his church members financially devastated.

Known for his extravagant lifestyle, Bishop Whitehead collected significant amounts of money from his congregation under false pretences.

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According to reports by the BBC, he promised his followers financial returns and benefits that never materialized. One church member was defrauded of her life savings, amounting to $90,000 (R1.5 million), under the guise that the money would be used to purchase a house for her.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, described Bishop Whitehead as a con man who exploited his position of trust to steal millions of dollars.

Williams stated, “Lamor Whitehead is a con man who stole millions of dollars in a string of financial frauds and even stole from one of his own parishioners. He lied to federal agents, and again to the court at his trial.

“Today’s sentence puts an end to Whitehead’s various schemes and reflects this office’s commitment to bring accountability to those who abuse their positions of trust.”