A house linked to a pastor featured within the Netflix docuseries “Dancing for the Satan: The 7M TikTok Cult” was raided Friday by federal brokers in relation to an investigation into intercourse trafficking, cash laundering and different accusations, based on authorities.
Property data present the house within the 7700 block of McGroarty Road in Tujunga is linked to a number of homeowners, together with Matthew Shinn, pastor of the Shekinah Church and the topic of a 2024 docuseries. He operates a expertise company that purportedly helps social media stars and TikTok dancers discover jobs in Los Angeles.
These featured within the docuseries name Shinn an abusive cult chief. They are saying he saved them away from their households by telling them that so as to be saved, they needed to “die” to their family members who didn’t comply with his teachings. He reportedly instructed them that in the event that they have been “godly” sufficient, they might additionally save their households from damnation.
On Friday, brokers with the U.S. Postal Service, Inside Income Service and U.S. Dept. of Labor served a warrant on the house round 6 a.m., based on the El Monte Police Division, which offered help together with the FBI.
The search was associated to allegations of intercourse trafficking, cash laundering, tax evasion and COVID pandemic-era associated fraud. SWAT officers have been on the scene to help, based on the El Monte Police Division.
Postal Inspector Patricia Mendoza mentioned in a ready assertion that officers will present extra particulars because the investigation progresses.
“U.S. Postal Inspection Service is working intently with our native, state, and federal regulation enforcement companions on this ongoing investigation. This stays an energetic case, and we’re persevering with to assemble and overview data,” Mendoza mentioned in an announcement.
Legislation enforcement sources conversant in the investigation say the federal warrant is linked with the alleged cult featured within the Netflix docuseries however particulars from the investigation stay below seal in federal court docket.
Information footage from KTLA confirmed a number of handcuffed folks exterior the residence, however sources conversant in the investigation say there haven’t but been any arrests.
It was not instantly clear if Shinn had any authorized illustration.
The docuseries follows former Shekinah Church members who labored with the 7M Movies expertise company, which was based by Shinn in 2021.
The sequence reveals that the dancers who have been represented by expertise company began as social media collaborators who often posted dance movies collectively on TikTok, however that group discovered themselves attending Bible examine with Shinn. These dancers invited pals to affix what finally grew to become the core group of the alleged cult. Shinn reportedly referred to as himself “the Man of God” and mentioned his teachings would grant his followers salvation.
Los Angeles Instances workers writers Brittny Mejia and Kimberly Aguirre contributed to this report.
