Kansas Cult Members Convicted in Child Labor and Abuse Case
Six members of a Kansas-based cult have been found guilty of forcing children into unpaid labor and subjecting them to abuse. The case reveals shocking details of exploitation under the guise of religious organization.
In a landmark case, six individuals associated with a Kansas-based cult have been found guilty of conspiracy to commit forced labor. The verdict, announced by the U.S. Department of Justice, marks a significant development in the fight against child exploitation and abuse within religious organizations.
The convicted individuals were high-ranking members or wives of the late founder, Royall Jenkins, of an organization formerly known as the United Nation of Islam and the Value Creators. This group, which a federal judge labeled a cult in 2018, operated under the guise of religious teachings while subjecting children to inhumane conditions and forced labor.
According to prosecutors, the cult's practices began in October 2000, when they started operating businesses such as gas stations, bakeries, and restaurants across several states. These enterprises were run using unpaid labor from group members and their children, some as young as eight years old. The children were forced to work up to 16 hours a day without compensation, enduring beatings and other forms of abuse.
The living conditions for these young victims were appalling. They were housed in overcrowded facilities infested with mold, mice, and rats. Strict rules governed their lives, including what they could read, how they dressed, and what they ate. Punishments for disobedience were severe, including confinement in a dark basement.
"Under the guise of false pretenses and coercion, these victims, some of whom were as young as eight years old, endured inhumane and abhorrent conditions."
The cult's founder, Royall Jenkins, who passed away in 2024, had previously been a member of the Nation of Islam until 1978. He claimed to have been shown the proper way to rule Earth after being taken through the galaxy by aliens on a spaceship. This bizarre claim attracted hundreds of followers at the cult's peak.
The case sheds light on the broader issue of cult manipulation and child exploitation. Cults often use isolation and mind control techniques to manipulate their members, and the psychological impact on survivors can be long-lasting. The process of leaving a cult, often referred to as "deprogramming" or "exit counseling," can be challenging and may require professional help.
The convictions carry potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison for Kaaba Majeed, who was also found guilty of five counts of forced labor, and up to five years for the other defendants: Yunus Rassoul, James Staton, Randolph Rodney Hadley, Daniel Aubrey Jenkins, and Dana Peach. Sentencing hearings are scheduled for February 2025.
This case is not the first legal action against the group. In May 2018, U.S. Judge Daniel Crabtree ordered the cult to pay $8 million to a woman who reported spending 10 years performing unpaid labor.
The conviction of these cult members serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for vigilance against child exploitation and the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals from abusive organizations masquerading as religious groups.
