Pentecostal Bishop in Philadelphia Charged With Insurance Fraud

A Philadelphia bishop has been charged with insurance fraud related to water damage that his Pentecostal church sustained.

State investigators say Bishop Benjamin Fisher of the Greater Bethel Temple in northeast Philadelphia claimed $77,000 in damages over a dozen events allegedly cancelled due to the damage.

The Attorney General’s Office says Fisher had “business interruption” insurance that would have paid out nearly $45,000.

Authorities say Fisher admits making up eight of the events and exaggerating the money lost on the other four.

No working phone number could be found Friday for either Fisher or the temple, and it was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer.