TUJUNGA, Calif., July 25, 2025 — Federal agents raided a Tujunga home on Friday, July 25, linked to Robert Shinn, the pastor of Shekinah Church and a figure central to the Netflix docuseries “Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult.” The investigation reportedly focuses on allegations of money laundering and sex trafficking.
Feds raid home tied to alleged “TikTok Cult” pastor
Authorities are investigating allegations of money laundering and sex trafficking.
Multiple warrants were issued, and at least seven people were detained at the property on McGroarty Street. The IRS, FBI, and U.S. Postal Service, with assistance from the El Monte Police Department’s SWAT team, executed the operation. Postal Inspector Patricia Mendoza confirmed the ongoing investigation, stating, “This remains an active case, and we are continuing to gather and review information.”
Shinn, described as an “abusive cult leader” in the Netflix docuseries, allegedly told followers they had to sever ties with non-believing family members. Several former dancers from the 7M company featured in the 2024 docuseries spoke out about alleged abuse. Shinn has denied these claims, with a statement at the end of the series asserting no criminal charges have been filed against him and that he has denied sexually abusing anyone.
In June 2024, dancer Aubrey Fisher shared his experiences, telling a television audience that he didn’t recognize issues within Shekinah Church until media reports surfaced suggesting it might be a cult. He recalled Shinn’s directive for members to publicly portray normalcy online, even sharing family interactions, to counter such perceptions.
Fellow dancer Miranda Derrick addressed the documentary in June 2024, asserting she was not a victim of abuse. Due to ongoing litigation, she stated she couldn’t comment on specifics but affirmed she does not condone abuse. Miranda, who is married to fellow 7M dancer James Derrick, felt the documentary presented a one-sided view. She explained that after dedicating her life to her faith in 2020, she requested space from her family, but they allegedly did not honor it, leading to frustration.
“My family didn’t honor the space I asked for and I saw a different side of them I’ve never seen before,” Miranda stated. “Honestly, it made me mad, frustrated and annoyed that they were being so overbearing and chaotic.” She also recounted her sister locking her out of their shared social media account, forcing her to create a new one for her own career.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
