A California home linked to a ‘TikTok cult pastor’ was raided by federal agents as part of a probe into sex trafficking.
Robert Shinn, pastor of the Shekinah Church and the subject of a Netflix documentary, had an address linked to him in Tujunga raided on Friday.
Authorities executed warrants related to allegations of sex trafficking, tax evasion, mail fraud, money laundering and Covid-19 related fraud, according to KTLA.
Several people were detained at the home, at least six people could be seen handcuffed in helicopter footage captured by the outlet of the raid.
Shinn founded the church in 1994 and founded a talent management firm named 7M Films which was formed ‘to help social media stars and TikTok dancers find jobs’.
The Netflix series, titled ‘Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult’, centered on the property and accusations that Shinn had abused and manipulated former members.
It examined stories and lawsuits relating to the church and the company, some of which accused Shinn of sexual assault. No charges were brought against him
Neighbor Jake Hartmann spoke with the LA Times, saying he heard flash-bangs being let off in the early hours on Friday.
Authorities executed warrants related to allegations of sex trafficking, tax evasion, mail fraud, money laundering and Covid-19 related fraud
Shinn founded the church in 1994 and formed a talent management firm named 7M Films which was formed ‘to help social media stars and TikTok dancers find jobs’
He said: ‘I was getting ready for work when I heard the flash-bangs go off. Then a loud speaker, “you need to come out, hands up”.’
An unknown man who exited the property on Friday told a Times reporter that the raid was ‘just a misunderstanding’.
Officials in the Golden State have not confirmed if anyone was arrested during the raid.
Shinn was accused of indoctrinating members with his religious ideology while profiting from their talents by claiming a portion of their income in the documentary.
One member, Miranda Derrick, serves as the documentary’s focus, with her family claiming she was brainwashed by Shinn and encouraged to abandon her family.
Derrick later took to her Instagram and branded the series as being ‘one-sided’ and assured her fans that she is ‘not a victim’.
Shinn never personally responded to the Netflix series, but his company 7M posted on Instagram branding it a ‘slanderous work of fiction’.
It added: ‘We will continue to pursue all legal remedies available to stop the spread of salacious lies and expect to be fully vindicated in court.’
Officials in the Golden State have not confirmed if anyone was arrested during the raid
An unknown man who exited the property on Friday told a Times reporter that the raid was ‘just a misunderstanding’
CNN reported that Shinn filed a defamation suit against former members, claiming they had made false statements about the group and had tried to cancel him.
Defendants in the case then joined with other members against Shinn and his wife, alleging ‘fraud, forced labor and human trafficking’.
The countersuit alleged Shinn had been responsible for ‘brainwashing, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, manipulation and exploitation’.
KTLA reported that a trial has been set to start in October, authorities would not say if the raid was in connection with controversy surrounding the Netflix series.
