What is the fraud and extortion case all about?
“Bling Bishop” Lamor Whitehead — a self-described mentee of Mayor Adams — went on trial in Manhattan Federal Court on Monday to fight charges alleging he swindled a parishioner, drew up fake bank documents, extorted a businessman and lied to the FBI. Here’s what to know about the case.
What are the accusations against Whitehead?
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan charged the Rolls-Royce-driving pastor in December 2022 with persuading one of his parishioners at Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministry in Canarsie, Brooklyn, to invest around $90,000 of her retirement savings and then blew it on luxury items for himself.
Prosecutors say Whitehead further attempted to trade access to City Hall he knew he couldn’t deliver on in attempts to extort $500,000 from Bronx businessman Brandon Belmonte and lied to the FBI when they sought to retrieve his devices. The pastor has sought to pin blame on Belmonte, alleging he set him up to save himself. Belmonte, whom Whitehead is suing for slander, faces fraud charges in a separate case in Brooklyn.
In March 2023, the feds alleged, Whitehead submitted fake bank documents in an online loan application claiming he had $2 million in accounts that, in reality, held less than $10.
What is Whitehead known for? Whitehead’s name was in the headlines for months before he faced charges. In May 2022, he publicly sought to broker a deal between the NYPD and Q train shooter Andrew Abdullah after the cold-blooded execution of a Goldman Sachs researcher.
Months later, the bishop was robbed of $1 million of jewelry at gunpoint in the middle of delivering a sermon at his church. Dramatic footage of the heist was captured on a livestream.
What’s his relationship to Mayor Adams?
Whitehead has described the mayor as a “mentor,” “brother,” and “friend” over the years. Sources previously told the Daily News the pair was introduced when Adams was an NYPD cop. Whitehead appeared with Adams at several events when the mayor was Brooklyn borough president.
While the feds allege Whitehead boasted of his City Hall connections while trying to scam Belmonte, there is no accusation Adams was aware of it or participated in wrongdoing. What’s at stake for Whitehead? Whitehead, who’s out on a $500,000 bond, faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted of wire fraud, extortion and related charges.