{"id":1268476,"date":"2022-12-21T14:01:10","date_gmt":"2022-12-21T14:01:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/12\/21\/pastor-robbed-on-livestream-faces-fraud-and-extortion-charges\/"},"modified":"2022-12-21T14:01:10","modified_gmt":"2022-12-21T14:01:10","slug":"pastor-robbed-on-livestream-faces-fraud-and-extortion-charges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/12\/21\/pastor-robbed-on-livestream-faces-fraud-and-extortion-charges\/","title":{"rendered":"Pastor robbed on livestream faces fraud and extortion charges"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A US preacher\u00a0who was robbed at gunpoint of more than $1m (\u00a3840,000) in jewellery during a livestreamed sermon in New York\u00a0has been indicted on charges of fraud and extortion.<\/p>\n

Lamor Whitehead had watches, diamonds and emeralds taken from him in July.<\/p>\n

Now he has been charged with a raft of crimes,\u00a0court documents say.<\/p>\n

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He is accused of defrauding a parishioner out of her retirement savings, attempting to extort a businessman and lying to the FBI.<\/p>\n

Mr Whitehead was arrested on Monday and will appear in federal court, the department of justice said in a\u00a0press release.<\/p>\n

The money allegedly taken from the parishioner \u2013 around $90,000 \u2013 was spent on \u201cluxury goods and clothing\u201d, the documents say.<\/p>\n

The charges against him could see him imprisoned for up to 20 years if he is convicted.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, he posted \u201cNOT GUILTY!\u201d on Instagram and directed followers to join his livestream.<\/p>\n

After being robbed in July, Mr Whitehead, dubbed the \u201cbling bishop\u201d by media in New York, vowed that the culprits would not \u201cget away with it\u201d.<\/p>\n

According to the New York Post, items taken from him and his wife included Rolex and Cavalier watches, a $25,000 Episcopal ruby and diamond ring, a $25,000 pair of earrings and even his wedding band.<\/p>\n

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