Feds raid California home of ‘TikTok Cult' pastor in sex trafficking, fraud investigation
Property records show the home in the 7700 block of McGroarty Street in Tujunga is linked to multiple owners, including Robert Shinn, pastor of the Shekinah Church and the subject of a 2024 docuseries. He operates a talent agency that purportedly helps social media stars and TikTok dancers find jobs in Los Angeles.
Those featured in the docuseries call Shinn an abusive cult leader. They say he kept them away from their families by telling them that in order to be saved, they had to 'die' to their loved ones who did not follow his teachings. He reportedly told them that if they were 'godly' enough, they would also save their families from damnation.
On Friday, agents with the U.S. Postal Service, Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Department of Labor served a warrant at the home around 6 a.m., according to the El Monte Police Department, which provided assistance along with the FBI.
The search was related to allegations of sex trafficking, money laundering, tax evasion and COVID-19 pandemic-era-related fraud. SWAT officers were at the scene to assist, according to the El Monte Police Department.
Postal Inspector Patricia Mendoza said in a prepared statement that officials will provide more details as the investigation progresses.
'U.S. Postal Inspection Service is working closely with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners on this ongoing investigation. This remains an active case, and we are continuing to gather and review information,' Mendoza said.
Law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation say the federal warrant is connected with the alleged cult featured in the Netflix docuseries, but details from the investigation remain under seal in federal court.
News footage from KTLA showed several handcuffed people outside the residence, but sources familiar with the investigation say there have not yet been any arrests.
On Friday afternoon, the Tujunga home bustled with onlookers, curious neighbors and news vehicles. The gated entrance to the home was visibly twisted and warped, having been rammed by federal agents early that morning, according to neighbors.
'I was getting ready for work when I heard the flash-bangs go off,' said one neighbor, Jake Hartmann. 'Then a loud speaker ... 'You need to come out, hands up.' All the neighbors came out to find FBI, Sheriff's Department and police taking up the whole area.'
An open gate is apparently unusual for the home. Several neighbors said that in the few years that the alleged cult lived on the property, it was constantly blocked off. The owner reportedly built higher walls and grew trees to further block views of the home.
'When they moved in, it was weird,' said neighbor Marge Wagner. 'They were very secretive, then they sent out a flyer of what they wanted to do. They said they wanted to do all these things for our community. Like letting scout troops meet at the house, doing prayer meetings at night, letting people swim in the pool. It was so bizarre.'
The property is large, wrapping around a street corner and lined with a thick wall of trees. Wagner recalls the owner taking back initial offers for a community space and giving mixed messages on the purpose of the property, a move that confused several in the community.
'The owner instead said in local meetings that they would hold a men's prayer night there every Tuesday,' Wagner said. 'For him to say that it was a church and only have one event a week for men … I thought, this isn't right. Nothing seemed right.'
Anthony Jackson, who lived next door for years, interacted with the residents of the property many times. Jackson described the neighborhood as quiet, with mostly older residents, and says he never saw any red flags.
'[Shinn's] wife is very nice. I've never seen anything out of the ordinary, heard anything out of the ordinary,' Jackson said. 'So when I saw the charges on the news, I couldn't even believe it. I mean, I still don't believe it.'
Others, like Wagner, said they found the standoffish behavior of residents at the property suspicious.
'My daughter said, 'Mom, have you heard about that ... documentary? Mom, you've gotta come over and watch this,' ' Wagner said. 'I didn't feel surprised. They ostracized themselves from people around.'
A man who refused to be named exited the property as a Times reporter approached.
'This is all just a misunderstanding,' he said, shaking his head at the damaged gate. 'A misunderstanding that resulted in destroyed property.'
In response to a request for an interview, the man replied, 'I don't wanna get caught up in all of this. I just live here. They'll see soon that it was all just a misunderstanding.'
It was not immediately clear if Shinn had any legal representation.
The docuseries follows former Shekinah Church members who worked with the 7M Films talent agency, which was founded by Shinn in 2021.
The series reveals that the dancers who were represented by the talent agency started as social media collaborators who frequently posted dance videos together on TikTok, but that group found themselves attending Bible study with Shinn. Those dancers invited friends to join what eventually became the core group of the alleged cult. Shinn reportedly called himself 'the Man of God' and said his teachings would grant his followers salvation.
Times staff writers Brittny Mejia and Kimberly Aguirre contributed to this report.
Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
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