California church leaders charged with forced labor of homeless, US attorney says

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A dozen leaders of a California-based ministry have been indicted by a federal grand jury, accused of forced labor of mostly homeless people, a US attorney says

Imperial Valley Ministries leaders recruited people by promising food and shelter, and instead forced them to beg for money for nine hours a day, six days a week and to give up their welfare benefits"for the financial benefit of the church leaders," prosecutors said in a news release Tuesday that announced the indictment had been unsealed.The ministry leaders will face charges of conspiracy, forced labor, document servitude and benefits fraud, US Attorney Robert Brewer said.

CNN reached out to Imperial Valley Ministries and officials declined to comment, saying they were on their way to court. Read MoreThe defendants were arrested in El Centro and San Diego and in Brownsville, Texas. Arraignments began Tuesday. "The indictment alleges an appalling abuse of power by church officials who preyed on vulnerable homeless people with promises of a warm bed and meals," Brewer said.

 

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What do you bet these so-called Christians came up with some 'Biblical' reason why the should be able to enslave people. We can only hope they spend their lives behind bars.

That's what they do instead of Helping people in need they Victimize them

Study the 45 Goals of the Communist Manifesto...and see where this kind of stuff rates.

Let us prey...

Church is now Corporate. Take their tax exemption away.

God is exposing the churches, the corrupt government and soon the corrupt media.

These idiots are Trump’s fake evangelical Christians. They answer not to Christ, but to power, money and the Republican Party. Pray for their congregation. They support and give 10% of their hard money to empower these evil people.

LucienGreaves every statement about hypocrisy in religion is so obvious anymore that every comment I think of leaving feels like a cliché.

🤬

LucienGreaves Only a dozen? You know there are loads more.

Can't believe they had time to do all that AND pray for all the victims of all the mass shootings and write checks to the NRA all at once soblessed multitaskingforchrist

blessed

I’d like to hear the full story from a real organization before forming an opinion on this.

Holy shit! WhatWouldJesusDo

LucienGreaves Check this..

They work for food has gone a whole new way

Nondenominational? Sounds like trumpers?

This sounds exactly like another tax exempt religious cult I've seen on AETV recently.

These people are FakeChristians that Jesus warned us about. It’s a shame that these Evangelicals are unaware of Jesus’ teachings—especially treating the poor & foreigners w/love & respect. They should read the Bible instead of following false prophets.

No , it can't be true ... Faith security Inc removing the garbage of the society ... There are only saints and glory in the Lord's church ... Maybe these are only sinners and must pay for it .

They are not true Christians. A true Christian will not do what was alleged. He/she will show love to the poor and homeless. There are a lot of false teachers out there who will decimate the of Lord God. But the true ones will show by their works/action.

All churches are not alike all Christians are not a like there are great churches who are honest and help people don't put them with theses phony frauds !

Scientology does this to their members. I still can’t believe they are still going.

Power without character is Satanic. Money is not the problem. It is the lust for money that give you amnesia. Take your eye of the ball. Be simple minded. Anyone that's based on violence is not Christian. Impossible.

American pastor's church leaders are biggest money scammers ever to be seen thier multi millionaires who take the money given to the poor and put it straight in thier pockets if ever one comes to ireland he will be shown the exit straight out

Tax. Them.

CNN always quick to criticise the church and Christians. Never criticises other religion. Very biased.

Christianity at its best. I wonder if they gave them a cup of coffee?. Such flipping' hypocrites.

This is a wolf in sheep clothing type of church. Sad that it was done in the name of Christ.

Come on people, y'all are acting like this was some regular Christian Church. If you read the article, you can clearly see what appears to be some cult like money making scam🤦

Doesn’t surprise me. They’ll seek GOD in prison when a guy named Bubba makes him his bitch

mary25jane EvanHELLicals RadicalRightWing

Can’t trust slick oil salesmen. Go to a small church in a rural town...you might be better off

What you want to bet that it’s some bs twist that people were asked to do chores while staying as a guest?

Wipe there ass,s 😎🤣

makes you wonder if these church leaders eve read the bible, Matthew 7:15 told of this.

Maybe the church leaders gave free, no charge, job trainings to the people?

Those “Christians” lol!

Meanwhile CNN docs CIA agent

TheKingCenter

suzukinathie What?!!

What is wrong with our society?!?

AndrewYang KamalaHarris TAX THE CHURCHES/SYNAGOGUES

StuffCCLikes

Did CNN check this story out before reporting on it. That would help to know before I put any credence in it.

Once the audit is finalized.I suspect they donated to the Trump campaign.

religion

Praise Jesus!!!!!! Sarcasm off

'Conservative Christian values'

C’mon Christian folk...y’all gotta do better smdh....

Jesus never did this.

Gay sexually assaulted Bartender

Gay sexually assaulted Bartender

Scientology does this every day and nobody says $hit or does $hit

No shocker here

Fake news.

Tell us more please

Way to work for the downtrodden people. Instead make them do forced work, like the slaves of old

Those leaders are tryin’ to launch slavery.

Just when you think they can’t get any lower.....

*shocked*

Typical christians. The most FAKE cult religion ever.

JeannieG40 This makes me sick. Especially since it's church leaders who are the abusers.

You mean they were asked to work for the free stuff they were getting ?

Excellent news.

The biggest lie and greatest scam in history: religion.

OH For The Love Of God!!!

Not real Christians

Its time to start taxing these churches. I hope the ACLU represents these homeless people and sues these ChristianHypocrites

In real life, all is corrupt, religion and politics, it’s shameful....i see why people drastically change....

Just because you in church don’t mean you have the truth

Liars.

Under his eye.

Good job so called Christians, time too tax these so called churches.

'Religion ' the way these hypocrites sell it is a lie. No better than a Ponzi scheme.

Ah Christians. Do as I say, not as I do. Modern day Pharisees.

Thoughts & Prayers....lol

Not in California? It can't be...that is the place where everyone is welcome and treated like family. The poor and weary are invited and cared for. No one from California would do such a thing. Just ask RepMaxineWaters and SpeakerPelosi They Run dat shit!

Wow!!! More frauds in religion. Truly takes away from the much good that is done. There are just too many bad apples

This is why you shouldn't trust any church or organized religion. They are all cults and corrupted.

Now thats not very Christian of them is it.

They should be forced into labor camps

What a surprise.

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