Additional Coverage:
Cult Members Convicted in Forced Labor Scheme
Six members of a Kansas-based cult have been convicted of exploiting children. They housed the children in overcrowded and unsanitary facilities, forcing them to work unpaid for up to 16 hours a day.
The cult, formerly known as the United Nation of Islam, was led by Royall Jenkins, who claimed to have been abducted by aliens and shown how to rule Earth.
The convicted members include high-ranking leaders and wives of Jenkins. They were found guilty of conspiring to commit forced labor. One defendant was also convicted of five counts of forced labor.
Abuse and Indoctrination
The children endured beatings, severe dietary restrictions, and other punishments. They were even threatened with eternal hellfire for leaving the cult.
Prosecutors described the group’s school as providing inadequate education and instead using the children as unpaid workers in businesses across the country.
Guilty Verdicts and Sentencing
After a trial that lasted over a month, jurors convicted all six defendants. The convictions carry sentences of up to 20 years in prison for one defendant and up to five years for the others. Sentencing hearings are scheduled for February.