In a Manhattan federal court ruling on Monday, a flamboyant Brooklyn pastor known as the "Bling Bishop," Lamor Whitehead, was handed a nine-year prison sentence. The jury found him guilty of multiple crimes, including stealing a parishioner's mother's retirement fund. Whitehead, who had previously boasted about his connection to Mayor Eric Adams, appeared before Judge Lorna Schofield and gave a rambling speech expressing "remorse" for his victims but ultimately failed to take responsibility for his actions.

The conviction stemmed from Whitehead swindling Pauline Anderson, a nurse and mother of one of his flock at Canarsie's Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries. Anderson had entrusted him with $90,000, which he claimed he would invest in a house for her. Instead, Whitehead splurged the money on personal expenses, including luxury purchases from brands like Louis Vuitton and BMW car payments.

During the court proceedings, Anderson emotionally recounted the devastating toll Whitehead's theft had on her. The stolen sum represented her entire retirement savings, leaving her heartbroken and financially drained. Her son, Rasheed, also spoke in court, describing the "devastating impact" the scam had on their family.

In addition to the financial fraud, Whitehead was found guilty of attempted extortion by using his alleged ties to Mayor Adams to secure a $500,000 loan from an auto body shop owner. Prosecutors also proved Whitehead's involvement in fraudulent activities, such as lying to a bank to obtain a $250,000 loan and providing false statements to FBI agents during a raid on his New Jersey mansion.

Prosecutors argued that Whitehead's flashy, indulgent lifestyle, which earned him the moniker "bling bishop," was funded through his criminal activities. They emphasized that Whitehead did not only steal from his fellow alleged criminals, but also from faceless financial institutions and trusting parishioners.

Despite Whitehead's claims of remorse, Judge Schofield expressed disappointment in his lack of acknowledgment for the impact his crimes had on others. Subsequently, she handed down a nine-year prison sentence, accompanied by three years of post-release supervision, citing Whitehead's previous history of "crimes of dishonesty" and high risk of recidivism.

It is worth noting that prior to establishing his church, Whitehead had already served a five-year prison sentence for a separate $2 million identity theft scheme.

Throughout the courtroom proceedings, Whitehead maintained his innocence, describing himself as a "pillar of the community." He name-dropped city and state officials he claimed to have worked with on various programs but none of them were present in court. Mayor Adams, however, expressed support for Whitehead, wishing him the best.

The "Bling Bishop" case captivated national attention in July 2022 when Whitehead and his wife were robbed at gunpoint during a live-streamed sermon. His lawyer argued that the incident likely caused him to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Ultimately, the sentence serves as a consequence for Whitehead's fraudulent activities, offering some semblance of justice for his victims who were deceived and financially devastated by their once-trusted pastor.