Federal Investigation Leads to Raid on TikTok Cult Pastor Robert Shinn’s Home

A residence associated with “TikTok Cult” pastor Robert Shinn was raided by federal agents.

On Friday, July 25, authorities entered a home located on the 7700 block of McGroarty Street in Tujunga, linked to multiple owners, including Shinn, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

As per local news outlet ABC7, “several” warrants were issued and multiple individuals were detained at the property on the same day. The warrants are connected to a probe into accusations of money laundering and sex trafficking and were executed by the IRS in cooperation with the FBI and U.S. Postal Service. The El Monte Police Department also noted that its SWAT team is involved in the ongoing investigation.

The report indicated that “at least seven people were detained.”

Us Weekly reached out to the El Monte Police Department via email and phone for further information. Us also contacted the Shekinah Church for their comments.

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is collaborating closely with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners on this ongoing investigation,” stated Postal Inspector Patricia Mendoza in a comment to the Times. “This case remains active, and we continue to gather and assess information.”

Shinn, the Shekinah Church pastor, appeared in the 2024 Netflix docuseries Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult. He was characterized as an “abusive cult leader,” the Times noted, and followers alleged that Shinn instructed them to “die” to family members who did not adhere to him.

Several former 7M dancers contributed to the documentary, voicing their experiences of the alleged abuse they suffered at Shinn’s hands in May 2024. Shinn has rejected the accusations against him, and a statement at the conclusion of the docuseries indicated, “No criminal charges have been filed against Shinn. He has consistently denied any sexual abuse of members of Shekinah or any client of 7M.”

Aubrey Fisher, a dancer featured in the documentary, appeared on the NewsNation program Banfield in June 2024 to recount his experiences.

“My time in Shekinah was quite unique,” he shared, noting that he did not initially perceive that things might be amiss until media reports suggested the 7M could be a cult.

“[Shinn] wanted everyone to visit their families, connect with friends, and ensure that everything they did was posted online to show that everything was normal and that we weren’t part of a cult at all. … That was when I started to think, ‘OK, this seems a bit suspicious,’” he added.

In June 2024, fellow dancer Miranda Derrick spoke out following the documentary, asserting she was not among those who allegedly faced abuse.

“I want to begin by expressing my gratitude for the concern shown regarding my well-being. Due to ongoing litigation, in which I am a plaintiff in a defamation lawsuit, it’s not appropriate for me to address specific allegations. However, I can affirm that I absolutely do not condone abuse,” Miranda, 27, stated via Instagram.

Miranda expressed that even though her parents and sister appeared in the documentary, she considers it to present “a one-sided narrative.”

“I cherish my Mom, Dad, and Melanie, and they will always be integral to my life. The reality is that we currently have different perspectives. I believe this documentary provided a one-sided portrayal,” Miranda continued. “I dedicated my life to Jesus Christ in 2020 and requested some space from my family to process my spiritual journey with God.”

“My family did not respect the space I requested, and I witnessed a side of them I had never experienced before, which left me feeling angry, frustrated, and annoyed by their chaotic behavior,” she said.

Miranda, who is married to her fellow 7M dancer James Derrick, added, “I also informed my sister that I wished to continue our wilkingsisters social media page. She logged me out of our account and denied my request when I asked for access again. Consequently, I had no option but to create my own account and pursue my own career.”

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).