March 26th 2024.
A man who claimed to be a bishop and traveled to different churches has been sentenced to three years in prison for the crime of bigamy. This comes just two months after he was placed on probation for the same offense.
Orlando Coleman, 51, was given jail time after marrying a third woman while still on probation for marrying two other women at the same time. According to Click 2 Houston, Coleman has been labeled as a "con man" who used his supposed title as a bishop to gain the trust of women and manipulate them for his own financial gain. It is believed that he has married at least 10 women in different states as part of his schemes.
On March 11, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg issued the sentencing, stating that Coleman's actions were driven by a desire to defraud and take advantage of women for money. She also mentioned that he used the church as a cover to hide from any consequences for his deceitful actions.
Since 2019, Coleman has been involved in three marriages with different women, the latest being in Houston, Texas in 2021. Five months into the marriage, the woman discovered that Coleman was receiving money from another woman in Virginia. After contacting the Virginia woman, she learned that she had been married to Coleman since 2019 as well. The Harris County Sheriff's Office was then alerted and they launched an investigation, leading to charges of bigamy being filed against the traveling bishop.
This sentencing comes almost a year after Coleman pleaded guilty to bigamy in July 2023. He was given three years of deferred adjudication probation in exchange for his guilty plea, but he managed to get himself in trouble once again for the same offense. As a result, his probation was revoked and he was sentenced to three years in prison.
According to Assistant District Attorney Vanessa Goussen, Coleman's victims have described him as a "con man" who used marriage as a means to get free housing, food, and money. She also advised women to be cautious and thorough when getting involved with someone new. Goussen suggested running a background check or searching their name online and asking a lot of questions to avoid falling victim to such scams.
In a similar case, a prison escapee was captured by U.S. Marshals after being spotted at a Planet Fitness gym. This serves as a reminder that individuals should always be vigilant and aware of their surroundings, as it is easier than we think to get swept off our feet by someone with ulterior motives.
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