NEW YORK, NY – Lamor Whitehead, a 45-year-old church leader from Paramus, New Jersey, was found guilty by a jury on charges including wire fraud, attempted wire fraud, attempted extortion, and making false statements to federal law enforcement. The verdict came after a two-week trial overseen by U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams highlighted the jury’s unanimous decision, pointing out Whitehead’s abuse of a parishioner’s trust, fraudulent loan attempts, extortion of a businessman, and lies to federal agents. Whitehead now faces significant prison time for his actions, convicted of five federal crimes.
Whitehead, 45, of Paramus, New Jersey, was convicted of two counts of wire fraud, one count of attempted wire fraud, and one count of attempted extortion, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of making false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said, “As a unanimous jury found, Lamor Whitehead abused the trust placed in him by a parishioner, tried to obtain a fraudulent loan using fake bank records, bullied a businessman for $5,000, tried to defraud him out of far more than that, and lied to federal agents. Whitehead’s reprehensible lies and criminal conduct have caught up with him, as he now stands convicted of five federal crimes and faces time in prison.”
Evidence presented at the trial revealed Whitehead’s misconduct, including the misappropriation of a parishioner’s retirement savings for personal luxuries and a series of attempts to defraud and extort a businessman under the guise of influential promises. Furthermore, Whitehead submitted a fraudulent $250,000 business loan application and lied to FBI agents during a search of his New Jersey mansion.
Whitehead’s conviction encompasses two counts of wire fraud, one count of attempted wire fraud, and one count of attempted extortion, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Additionally, he was convicted of making false statements, which could lead to a five-year prison sentence.