Federal and local law enforcement searched for evidence of sex trafficking and other crimes Friday at a home in Tujunga that’s reported to be tied to a church that’s the subject of a Netflix docuseries that labeled the operation as a “TikTok Cult.”
The El Monte police tactical team assisted with serving a search warrant in the 7700 block of McGroarty Street in Tujunga around 6 a.m., said El Monte Police Sgt. Art Saenz. The U.S. Postal Service was one of the lead agencies, he said.
Neighbors told reporters at the scene that law enforcement showed up at the house at roughly 6 a.m., and the search continued through the morning.
The warrant’s affidavit was reported by several media outlets to allege not only sex trafficking, but also tax evasion, money laundering as well as mail and other forms of fraud.
According to broadcast reports, the home raided Friday is tied to Shekinah Church and so-called “TikTok Cult” leader Robert Israel Shinn.
The pastor and the church are the subject of the Netflix docuseries “Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult.”
At least six handcuffed people were seen detained at the location on Friday.
There were no arrests, said Ciaran McEvoy, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office
The search – led by IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General – was done pursuant to a warrant, he said.
“Since the warrant remains under seal, we will have no further comment,” McEvoy said.
The FBI assisted only, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.
City News Service contributed this this report.
Originally Published:
