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California Church Leaders Charged In Scheme To Force Homeless People To Work For Them
11 September 2019
ABC 10 News/YouTube
Twelve leaders of Imperial Valley Ministries in California have been indicted for forcing homeless people to perform labor.
With the promise of hot meals and beds, Imperial Valley coerced its victims into panhandling for nine hours a day, six days a week before locking them in group homes with deadbolts.
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In the recently unsealed indictment, the homeless victims describe the lengths Imperial Valley went to monitor them. The ministry also took their identification and coerced many into sacrificing welfare benefits.
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<strong>United States Attorney Robert Brewer said of the atrocity:</strong>
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<em>"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. These victims were held captive, stripped of their humble financial means, their identification, their freedom and their dignity."</em>
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In addition to performing slave labor, many victims with illnesses and disabilities were denied medical assistance.
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<strong>People were appalled to see the horrors imposed upon the victims—by a church, no less.</strong>
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</p><div id="dc702" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="Z1RLI21568227297"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1171570055085219842" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@cnnbrk How Christian.</div> — Rebecca Niles (@Rebecca Niles)<a href="https://twitter.com/RebeccaDNiles/statuses/1171570055085219842">1568159042.0</a></blockquote></div>
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</p><div id="e058b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2LZOJ01568227297"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1171569449851211781" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@cnnbrk The biggest scammers in America are these people</div> — Canadian Scam Busters 🇨🇦 (@Canadian Scam Busters 🇨🇦)<a href="https://twitter.com/CANscambust/statuses/1171569449851211781">1568158898.0</a></blockquote></div>
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</p><div id="04c1a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="BMMWJV1568227297"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1171570135980658688" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@cnnbrk The blatant hypocrisy is exactly why so many people are turned off from religion.</div> — Brittany (@Brittany)<a href="https://twitter.com/britknee_00/statuses/1171570135980658688">1568159061.0</a></blockquote></div>
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</p><div id="8f535" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="GSJFQU1568227297"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1171580896425594880" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@cnnbrk This group called themselves Christian but were not. They practiced slavery on poor people using God's nam… https://t.co/V45vmHOb0T</div> — BB (@BB)<a href="https://twitter.com/Lillyb33b33/statuses/1171580896425594880">1568161627.0</a></blockquote></div>
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</p><div id="d3f09" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6IBHUS1568227298"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1171576824008237057" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@cnnbrk "Religion " the way these hypocrites sell it is a lie. No better than a Ponzi scheme.</div> — Mark Kaliher (@Mark Kaliher)<a href="https://twitter.com/Mark_the_Nurse/statuses/1171576824008237057">1568160656.0</a></blockquote></div>
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</p><div id="60c38" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9S6NK11568227298"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1171593913695711232" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@cnnbrk C’mon Christian folk...y’all gotta do better smdh....</div> — THAT’S BUGGED OUT! 🔴 (@THAT’S BUGGED OUT! 🔴)<a href="https://twitter.com/youbuggintoo/statuses/1171593913695711232">1568164730.0</a></blockquote></div>
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</p><div id="7e37d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ZYL1RN1568227298"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1171762831685013504" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@cnnbrk They are not true Christians. A true Christian will not do what was alleged. He/she will show love to the p… https://t.co/hRTRHCLb1L</div> — Blessing Olise (@Blessing Olise)<a href="https://twitter.com/blaze_29/statuses/1171762831685013504">1568205004.0</a></blockquote></div>
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</p><div id="ef168" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="HC2A9O1568227298"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1171572264103555072" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@cnnbrk Isn't this more properly called "human trafficking"? Ah, religion.</div> — 𝕽𝖔𝖇 (@𝕽𝖔𝖇)<a href="https://twitter.com/Mecandes/statuses/1171572264103555072">1568159569.0</a></blockquote></div>
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</p><div id="f557b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7D45531568227298"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1171569554922848256" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@cnnbrk Unbelievable</div> — Rebeca (@Rebeca)<a href="https://twitter.com/rebecaeliza/statuses/1171569554922848256">1568158923.0</a></blockquote></div>
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<strong>The church leaders—including the pastor—will be charged with benefits fraud, conspiracy, forced labor and document servitude. </strong></p><p>Apparently they missed the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3–12):</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</li><li><span></span>Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.</li><li>Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.</li><li>Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.</li><li>Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.</li><li>Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.</li><li>Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.</li><li>Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</li><li>Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.</li><li>Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.</li></ul><p>A frame ready copy of <strong><em><a href="https://amzn.to/2NS1BIV" target="_blank">The Beatitudes</a></em></strong> is available <strong><em><a href="https://amzn.to/2NS1BIV" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a></em></strong>.</p>
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<p>********<br></p><p><strong>Listen to the first four episodes of George Takei's podcast, '<a href="https://anchor.fm/ohmyyypod"><em>Oh Myyy Pod!</em></a>'</strong> where we explore the racially charged videos that have taken the internet by storm.</p><p><div data-conversation-spotlight=""></div></p><p>Be sure to subscribe <em><strong><a href="https://anchor.fm/ohmyyypod" target="_blank">here</a></strong></em> and never miss an episode.</p><iframe frameborder="0" height="102px" scrolling="no" src="https://anchor.fm/ohmyyypod/embed/episodes/When-Bystanders-Refuse-To-Stand-By-e58t8n/a-amidri" width="400px"></iframe>
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