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On Monday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York announced that they arrested Bishop Lamar Whitehead for fraud, extortion, and false statements.
Earlier this year Brooklyn bishop went viral after an abrupt robbery was captured via live stream during a church service in July.
Recalling the robbery, Whitehead said, “When I saw them come into the sanctuary with their guns, I told everybody, ‘Get down,’” Whitehead said in an Instagram video describing the alleged theft. “I didn’t know if they wanted to shoot the church up.”
Though Whitehead’s version of events have been widely disputed, as he tells it, the thieves demanded that he and his wife turn over all their jewelry, which included a $75,000 Rolex watch, a $75,000 Cavalier watch, a $25,000 Episcopal ruby-and-diamond ring, and a $25,000 Episcopal diamond ring, among other gem-encrusted baubles, according to the New York Post.
A few weeks later he went viral once again after he was involved in an incident with a woman in his church, having her forcefully removed mid-sermon.
FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said on Monday, “As we allege today, Whitehead carried out several duplicitous schemes in order to receive funds from his victims. Additionally, when speaking with authorities, Whitehead consciously chose to mislead and lie to them. If you are willing to attempt to obtain funds through false...
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