Brooklyn ‘Bling Bishop’ is notorious for his lavish lifestyle – complete with a fleet of luxury cars, $2.8 million mansion and wardrobe full to the brim of designer wears.
Lamor Miller-Whitehead, 45, who ran a church in Canarsie called Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries, hit headlines in 2022 when he was filmed being reportedly robbed of $400,000 worth of jewelry while livestreaming a sermon.
He also repeatedly claimed to have close ties with New York Mayor Eric Adams.
But then a slew of fraud charges landed, and the flashy man of the cloth, Lamor Miller-Whitehead, 45, was on Monday found guilty of five counts including wire fraud, attempted extortion and lying to FBI agents in court.
Prosecutors said he scammed one elderly single mother out of $90,000 after promising to buy her a house – only to instead spend the money on luxury items.
Brooklyn’s ‘Bling Bishop’ was convicted of using fraud and extortion to fund his over-the-top lavish lifestyle – which includes luxury cars, mansions and a wardrobe full of designer brand
Lamor Miller-Whitehead, 45, was found guilty of five counts including wire fraud, attempted extortion and lying to FBI agents in court on Monday
He usually shows up to court in Gucci tuxes or Fendi blazers – one of which cost a whopping $2,000
The fraudster even appeared at the Manhattan Federal Court to attend his trial in February wearing a $3,000 Fendi backpack
Since being arrested, he has often shown up to court hearings in Gucci tuxes or Fendi blazers – one of which cost a whopping $2,000.
He was pictured wearing a massive shiny ruby ring and diamond watch as attended court in September, 2022.
The fraudster even attended his trial at the Manhattan Federal Court in February carrying a $3,000 Fendi backpack.
On top of his ostentatious style, Whitehead has also used the cash from his multiple schemes for car payments and properties.
He has been seen in a white Rolls Royce with a bright orange exterior, which starts at $300,000 but has been sold for up to $470,000.
Whitehead has also been pictured driving around Brooklyn in a Bentley and in a Maserati.
Records show that the convicted fraudster purchased a mansion in Paramus, New Jersey, for an estimated cost of $2.8 million.
The 9,000-square-foot property boasts six bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms.
It has a sprawling driveway with a double car garage and even a massive backyard with a veranda and spacious lawn.
The inside of the mansion has marble floors and a winding staircase – as well as a grand dining room fit with a glistening chandelier.
Whitehead’s luxury property even has a home gym, a games room, walk-in closets, a movie theatre and an entire hair salon.
On top of his incredible New Jersey mansion, records show that the preacher owned multiple apartment buildings in Hartford, Connecticut.
Records show that the convicted criminal purchased a mansion in Paramus, New Jersey, for an estimated cost of $2.8 million
He has been seen in a white Rolls Royce with a bright orange exterior, which starts at $300k but has been sold for up to $470k
He has been pictured wearing a massive shiny ruby ring and diamond watch as attended court in September, 2022
The $350,000 Rolls Royce that the minister arrived at the Fifth Precinct in Manhattan back in May, 2022. Whitehead is also believed to have been seen in Brooklyn in a Bentley and Maserati
Whitehead is married to Asia DosReis-Whitehead and they share three children Jaidyn Lamor, Soriah and Heaven.
After posting bail for $500,000 in 2022, Whitehead went on a 15-minute-long rant condemning the fraud charges he faced from his cushy mansion.
Before his lengthy record of deceit came to light, the Rolls Royce-driving bishop was ‘trusted by many in his community,’ Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Greenwood said at the time.
‘The defendant abused that trust by lying again and again,’ she said.
‘He lied about how much money he had. He lied about his business plans. And he lied about having influence with powerful people. All with the goal of getting money and property to fund his extravagant lifestyle.’
She accused Whitehead of convincing the elderly woman, a former nurse, that he would use her retirement savings to buy a fixer-upper home and renovate it for her to live in.
‘And she believed the defendant – a man, who by that time, had become a mentor and spiritual adviser to her son,’ Greenwood continued.
Whitehead ultimately splurged the money on designer clothing and a BMW payment.
Whitehead (left) and Eric Adams (right) are believed to have a close relationship as the mayor tends to discuss social issues with the Bishop
Whitehead is seen donning a $5,000 North Face x Gucci jacket and a massive ruby ring on his right hand
Whitehead is pictured here with his wife – Asia DosReis Whitehead
When the victim’s son attempted to get recoup his mother’s funds, Whitehead said in a text message he was asking God to ‘exact vengeance’ upon the man.
Two other schemes targeted a money-lending company and a Bronx businessman.
Prosecutors said the bishop drew up fake bank statements to secure a $250,000 loan, claiming that he had millions in a company account that actually contained less than $6.
He was also accused of attempting to extort $5,000 from Brandon Belmonte, the owner of a Bronx auto body shop, after a repair job.
Prosecutors alleged Whitehead further tried to convince Belmonte to lend him $500,000 and give him a stake in real estate deals, insisting his connections to city officials could earn them favorable treatment and score them millions.
Belmonte was hit with federal bank and wire fraud charges himself in August 2023. The 39-year-old was accused of running a financing scheme through his car rental business as well as an insurance scam.
Whitehead showed off his display of Fendi and Gucci jackets along with his ‘priestly robes and more’
After posting bail for $500,000, Whitehead went on a 15-minute-long rant condemning the fraud charges he faced from his cushy mansion in December, 2022
The Balenciaga-wearing pastor was accused of conning Pauline Anderson, an elderly single mother, out of $90,000, promising that he would buy her a house
The preacher also made headlines for his ties to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, whom he unsuccessfully ran to succeed as Brooklyn borough president in 2021.
Adams declined to endorse Whitehead in the race and slammed him for using his name in a ‘misleading’ campaign ad, according to text messages shown during the trial.
In July, 2022, three men burst into Whitehead’s church and robbed him at gunpoint.
The thieves reportedly made off with more than $400,000 in bling from the ostentatious bishop before two were arrested in September.
Authorities believe the bishop was targeted because he was known to wear flashy, expensive jewelry in the pulpit.
Juwan Anderson and Say-Quan Pollack, both 23, were charged under the US Hobbs Act, which criminalizes robbery and extortion which interferes with interstate commerce.
Following their initial arrest, Whitehead told the New York Daily News that he was ‘extremely happy’ they had been apprehended.
‘My wife was crying when she heard the news. We’re waiting for the last one to be arrested so we can move on with our life,’ he added, claiming it disproves theories he had staged the attack.
But just weeks after the robbery, Whitehead tempted fate posting a tour of his ‘prayer closet,’ which could double as a designer warehouse.
The bishop showed viewers his vast collection of designer goods, including a number of Gucci and Fendi blazers and a significant designer shoe collection.
Dawn Florio, an attorney for Whitehead, plans to appeal Monday’s verdict. She insisted during the trial that the evidence presented did not support the charges.
Whitehead’s sentencing before Judge Lorna G. Schofield is scheduled for July 1.