Extravagant ‘Bling Bishop’ Sentenced to Nine Years for Church Fraud

In a dramatic turn of events, Brooklyn's notorious Bishop Lamor Miller-Whitehead, often referred to as the ‘Bling Bishop' for his opulent lifestyle, has been sentenced to nine years in prison.

US District Judge Lorna G Schofield delivered the sentence following his conviction on several serious charges.

These charges included wire fraud, attempted wire fraud, attempted extortion, and making false statements to federal officers.

The 45-year-old pastor, famous for his designer clothes and luxury cars like his Rolls Royce, was found guilty in March 2024 after a two-week trial.

The incident that catapulted his church, Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries in Canarsie, into the headlines occurred in July 2022.

During a live-streamed service, armed robbers stole jewelry worth $1 million from him and his wife.

US Attorney Damian Williams described Miller-Whitehead's actions as those of a “con man who stole millions of dollars in a string of financial frauds and even stole from one of his parishioners.”

The trial revealed that Miller-Whitehead had persuaded a parishioner to invest $90,000 from her retirement savings, promising to help her buy a home. Instead, he spent the money on personal luxuries.

Additionally, he attempted to extort $5,000 from a businessman and sought an additional loan of $500,000.

His fraudulent activities also included submitting a falsified $250,000 business loan application.

During the investigation, FBI agents reported that he provided false information to hinder their inquiries.

Upon his release from prison, Miller-Whitehead will be subjected to three years of supervised release.

He has also been ordered to pay $85,000 in restitution and forfeit another $95,000.

Miller-Whitehead's attorney, Dawn Florio, expressed their intention to appeal the verdict.

“Despite this setback,” Florio told The Independent, “we remain steadfast in our belief in Bishop Lamor Miller-Whitehead’s innocence and are committed to continuing the fight. Our dedication to proving Bishop Whitehead’s innocence is unwavering.”