12 hours ago
1
A home linked to “TikTok Cult” pastor Robert Shinn was raided by federal agents.
Authorities accessed a home at the 7700 block of McGroarty Street in Tujunga that is connected to several owners, including Shinn, on Friday, July 25, the Los Angeles Times reported.
According to local news outlet ABC7, “several” warrants were issued and multiple people were detained at the property on Friday. The warrants are tied to an investigation into allegations of money-laundering and sex trafficking and were served by the IRS in collaboration with the FBI and U.S. Postal Service. The El Monte Police Department also told ABC7 its SWAT team is part of the investigation.
The news outlet reported “at least seven people were detained.”
Us Weekly reached out to the El Monte Police Department via email and phone for comment. Us also reached out to the Shekinah Church for comment.
“U.S. Postal Inspection Service is working closely with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners on this ongoing investigation,” Postal Inspector Patricia Mendoza told the Times. “This remains an active case, and we are continuing to gather and review information.”
Shinn, the pastor of the Shekinah Church, was featured in the 2024 Netflix docuseries Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult. He was described as an “abusive cult leader” the Times noted, and followers claimed Shinn told them they had to “die” to their family members who did not follow him.
Several former 7M dancers participated in the documentary and spoke out against the abuse they allegedly received at Shinn’s hands in May 2024. Shinn has denied the allegations against him, and a statement at the end of the docuseries read, “No criminal charges have been brought against Shinn. He has previously denied sexually abusing any member of Shekinah or any client of 7M.”
Aubrey Fisher, a dancer who participated in the documentary, appeared on the NewsNation show Banfield in June 2024 to describe what he claimed he experienced.
“My experience in Shekinah was very interesting,” he explained at the time, while adding that he didn’t immediately realize things might not be right at the church until media coverage suggested the 7M could be a cult.
“[Shinn] wanted to have everybody go see our families, talk to our friends, make sure that everything that you do, post it [online] so that way people can see that everything is normal and everything just looks like we’re not in a cult at all. … That was when I was like, ‘OK, this is kinda fishy,’” he added.
In June 2024, fellow dancer Miranda Derrick broke her silence on the documentary, insisting she was not among those who were allegedly abused.
“I want to start by saying that I appreciate the concern that has been expressed for my well-being. Due to pending litigation, in which I am a plaintiff in a defamation lawsuit, it’s not appropriate for me to comment on specific allegations. Though I will state that I do not condone abuse in any way,” Miranda, 27, began her statement via Instagram.
Miranda added that though her parents and sister participated in the documentary, she believes it only offered “a one-sided story.”
“I love my Mom, Dad and Melanie and they will forever be a part of my life. The truth is, we just don’t see eye to eye at this time. I believe that this documentary is a one-sided story,” Miranda continued. “I gave my life to Jesus Christ in 2020 and asked my family for some space in the very beginning to collect my thoughts and process my new walk I wanted to take with God.”
Thank You!
You have successfully subscribed.
“My family didn’t honor the space I asked for and I saw a different side of them I’ve never seen before. Honestly, it made me mad, frustrated and annoyed that they were being so overbearing and chaotic,” she said.
Miranda, who is married to fellow 7M dancer James Derrick, continued, “I also told my sister that I wanted to continue our wilkingsisters social media page. She logged me out of our account and when I asked for access back she denied my request. So I had no other choice but to start my own account and pursue my own career.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
English (US) ·