'Bling' Bishop Used Phony Finances To Pay For Paramus Estate: Feds

PARAMUS, NJ — A "Bling Bishop" from Brooklyn whose headline-making moments include a mid-sermon mugging caught on live-stream, a plan to turn in a suspected subway shooter directly to his friend Mayor Eric Adams and recently filed fraud charges now stands accused of using fake bank records to fund his Bergen County home, court records show.

A new indictment filed in Manhattan federal court this week accuses Pastor Lamor Whitehead of fabricating bank account and altered bank statements to obtain a $1.3 million mortgage on his Paramus manse, according to court records.

In a statement to the New York Post, Whitehead's attorney denied the charges.

“We are going to be fighting those allegations,” Dawn Florio said. “Lamor Whitehead will be pleading not guilty when he is arraigned on the … indictment and denies those charges.”

Federal prosecutors contend Whitehead altered bank statements in 2018 and 2019 to indicate that his LLC — Anointing Management Services — had more than $2 million.

According to the indictment, the true amount was less than $10.

Whitehead's 6,200-square-foot mansion features six bedrooms and seven bathrooms, and boasts a marble entryway, double-height ceilings, and radiant-heated floors throughout.

The religious leader also stands accused of taking about $90,000 from a woman who attended his church with the promise he'd help her buy a home, prosecutors said.

Instead, Whitehead used her her cash to buy thousands of dollars in luxury goods and clothing, according to prosecutors.

Another alleged offense is that he had lied to federal investigators about owning only one cellphone, when in fact, he owned two, court records show.

If convicted of all counts against him, 44-year-old Whitehead could face dozens of years in prison.

A flashy prosperity gospel preacher, Whitehead leads a Brooklyn church called Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries.