His extravagant lifestyle caught up to him.
American preacher Lamor Miller-Whitehead faces serious legal ramifications following his conviction on numerous counts of fraud, including the exploitation of an elderly single mother, resulting in a loss totaling $90,000 (£70,300).
As the leader of Leaders of Tomorrow International Churches, Whitehead’s convictions span wire fraud, attempted extortion, and providing false information to the FBI, as decreed by a federal court ruling on Monday.
Often referred to as the ‘bling bishop’ due to his flamboyant lifestyle and extravagant spending habits, Whitehead stands accused of deceiving an elderly member of his congregation, Pauline Anderson, by promising to purchase and renovate a home for her, only to divert the funds for personal gain. Additionally, he faces allegations of attempting to extort a local businessman.
Among the litany of charges, Whitehead is accused of fabricating bank records to secure a loan totaling $250,000 (£195,500), falsifying ownership of a second mobile phone, and seeking to extort $5,000 (£3,908) from the owner of an auto body shop following a repair service.
His opulent lifestyle, characterized by multiple property holdings and driving a Rolls Royce, garnered public attention previously when he fell victim to a theft of jewelry valued at $1 million (£854,500) during a live-streamed church service on a Sunday.
Whitehead’s legal woes reached a climax with his arrest in December 2022, although he was subsequently released on bail pending further legal proceedings.
His legal representation, led by attorney Dawn Florio, has indicated plans to contest the verdict through an appeals process.
The sentencing phase for Whitehead is scheduled for July, marking the next significant development in this high-profile legal saga.