Self-proclaimed Houston bishop allegedly married as many as 10 women, sentenced for bigamy

A fraudulent individual posing as a pastor has been sentenced to three years in prison for bigamy after marrying multiple women, despite already being married.

Orlando Coleman, masquerading as a traveling bishop, traversed black churches across the US, using his guise to accumulate spouses. He preyed on the trust of congregations, presenting himself as a clergy member and founding various churches, alongside his portrayal as a Pentecostal preacher on social media.

Despite pleading guilty to bigamy in July 2023 and being placed on probation for marrying two women simultaneously, Coleman audaciously married another woman two months later, leading to his incarceration for marrying multiple women since 2019.

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg condemned Coleman's actions, stating, "At the heart of this repeat offender’s schemes was a plan to defraud women and take advantage of them for financial gain. This man used the church to camouflage his scams and hide from any accountability or responsibility."

In Texas, bigamy carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison, as defined by being married to more than one person simultaneously.

Coleman's fraudulent activities were unveiled in 2021 when discrepancies arose between his multiple marriages. His Houston wife discovered he was receiving money from a woman in Virginia, leading to the revelation that both women were married to Coleman. Subsequently, the Harris County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation, resulting in bigamy charges.

Despite pleading guilty and receiving deferred adjudication probation initially, Coleman disregarded the terms and married another woman in Kentucky while still married to his wife in Virginia. Prosecutors moved to revoke his probation upon discovering his new marriage, leading to his recent sentencing to three years in prison during a March 11 hearing.

Assistant District Attorney Vanessa Goussen highlighted Coleman's manipulative tactics, stating that he proposed marriage to gain housing and financial security from the women he targeted. Coleman's proposal, disguised under his religious facade, was a significant gesture for the women, validating his deceitful persona.

Coleman's victims, some of whom filed for divorce after his departure to another state, have shed light on his exploitative behavior.

Currently incarcerated at the Harris County Jail, Coleman's deceitful acts have resulted in legal consequences and serve as a warning against financial and emotional manipulation disguised under religious pretenses.