Chicago
Bishop Is Victim Of Identity Theft
He said a Racine man stole his identity so that he could impersonate a minister. In a 12 News investigation, John Atwater uncovered the extraordinary lengths the man allegedly undertook to violate the trust of unsuspecting victims. This summer, he was unanimously elected to preside over the United Pentecostal Churches of Christ. With the new title, came a need for new vestments. But when he traveled to a religious goods store in Connecticut, he discovered that he already had a tab. "In looking at the invoices and the sizes, the clerk said to me, 'this couldn't be you. You're a 20-inch neck. These are 16-inch necks,'" Trotter said. He said shirts, robes and head coverings worth thousands of dollars were all ordered in his name. "I mean he didn't hold back. He had everything," Trotter said. He said it was a curious case of identity theft. The bishop's name was all over the invoice, and the shipping address was another man's condominium in Racine, Wis. "I go through my cardex (rolodex). I always save business cards, and I run across a card, Racine Wis. Well, that automatically opened my eyes," Trotter said. Orlando Coleman/2004/0922/3752634.jpg/2004/0922/3752634_40X30.jpg/2004/0922/3752634_60X45.jpg/2004/0922/3752634_80X60.jpg/2004/0922/3752634_120X90.jpg/2004/0922/3752634_200X150.jpg/2004/0922/3752634_320X240.jpgOrlando ColemanThe name Orlando Coleman (pictured, right) was on that card. Trotter said they met a few years ago at his Chicago church. But he couldn't figure out why a virtual stranger would order religious robes in his name. After chatting with a few local pastors, Trotter said he discovered he was just one piece of a calculated strategy. "I got a sense that he was trying to convince me, at the head of this church, and convince the people, 'You all need to make sure to give me money because I am doing such a great thing for you,'" Stone Temple Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Derrick Fitzpatrick said. Coleman visited Chicago's Stone Temple Missionary Baptist Church in June. "On this Sunday, the noticeable thing he was wearing was the bishop's ring," Fitzpatrick said. Pastor Derrick Fitzpatrick said Coleman put up an impressive bishop's facade -- religious clothing and jewelry that made him look legitimate. "He went there and used my name and said he was part of my fellowship and they let him preach," Trotter said. Coleman preached, but after a few minutes at the pulpit, Fitzpatrick said his message took a turn with a story he shared about the compensation he received after preaching at another church. "I opened the envelope, and there was $25 in there, and we don't preach for money. Don't get the wrong impression. But the bible says the servant is worthy of his hire, and let the elder that rule well be given double honor. I'm not even an elder any more, I'm a bishop, and I wasn't given no honor," Coleman said when preaching, according to church officials. After that sermon, Coleman walked away with a $500 offering, according to the church. The church said he pulled a fast one in God's name. "It's a hustle for him. From what I understand, he doesn't have a job and so he goes around in these vestments, portrays himself as bishop, and he gets invited in certain circles. So that became a hustle for him to make money," Trotter said. During the course of 12 News' investigation, Atwater learned that Coleman does have a job at a Racine mortgage company. That's where Atwater caught up with him. "Just wondering if you can tell us a little about it?" Atwater asked. "I'm going to work right now, I'm not doing an interview right now," Coleman answered. "We heard from a bishop in Chicago that you stole his identity," Atwater said. "Sir, I just said I'm going to work right now, thank you," Coleman said. "Why don't you want to talk about it?" Atwater asked "Because I'm at my job," Coleman responded. "Is there a better time we can catch you?" Atwater asked. "No," Coleman said. "Can you give us a phone number?" Atwater asked. "No," Coleman said. Trotter hasn't had luck getting answers either. "The bishop he claimed consecrated him (has a) non-working phone number," Trotter said. He's certain Coleman's never been a bishop, Atwater reported. But court records show he's used the title before. Earlier this month, he was convicted of felony theft in Kenosha -- accused of billing a phony church for a $3,500 piece of jewelry. "He had a service he was going to perform on Saturday. His other chain had broken, and it was urgent that he had a replacement," the jewelry store owner said. The storeowner said they never got payment for the lavish necklace because the church was a fake. Chicago clergymen said they too were misled. They said the deceit to make a quick buck brings disgrace and dishonor to them, their congregations and to God. Now, they wonder how many other churches have been duped simply because his method is so convincing. "To fictitiously get up and preach God's word and to claim the highest office in the Christian church. This may be a strong word, but to me that is an abomination," Trotter said. Coleman has not been charged with stealing the bishop's identity, partly because the bishop said he's too busy to pursue a criminal case. The bishop did confront Coleman. He's forgiven the man and said he hopes that he reforms his ways. WISN 12 News found at least two churches that said they were duped, but the bishop said he fears others may have fallen prey and not even known it. He
hopes the media attention brings others forward. From: http://www.themilwaukeechannel.com/news/3752537/detail.html |