Bishop Lamor Whitehead, the former leader of a New York City church, was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of stealing over $500,000 from a retired woman’s retirement fund. On Wednesday afternoon, he arrived at court dressed in an orange jumpsuit and shackles to hear his sentence.
According to prosecutors, Whitehead used his position as bishop of the Church of God Christian Academy in Brooklyn to gain the trust of 70-year-old retired teacher Lily Chang. He convinced her to invest her entire retirement fund into the church, promising high returns and claiming that it would help support the community.
However, instead of using the money for its intended purpose, Whitehead used it to fund his luxurious lifestyle. He bought expensive jewelry, designer clothes, and even a $75,000 diamond-encrusted watch which earned him the nickname “Bling Bishop.”
After years of living in luxury while Chang struggled financially, she finally realized that she had been deceived and reported Whitehead to authorities. In 2024, he was arrested and charged with grand larceny and scheming to defraud.
During his trial, evidence showed that Whitehead had used the stolen money for personal expenses such as private jets, vacations, and even a $1.5 million home in Florida. He also used the church’s credit cards to pay for these expenses and withdrew large sums of cash from its accounts.
As a result, on Wednesday, Judge Mark Dwyer sentenced Whitehead to 4-12 years in prison. In addition to serving time behind bars, he was ordered to pay back the full amount he stole from Chang’s retirement fund.
Before being taken into custody, Whitehead expressed remorse for his actions and apologized to Chang and the church community. However, Judge Dwyer was not convinced of his sincerity and stated that his actions were “nothing short of despicable.”
The sentencing of Whitehead serves as a warning to others who may use their positions of trust for personal gain. It also highlights the importance of doing thorough research and due diligence before investing large sums of money.
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