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Who is Robert Shinn? All about TikTok pastor home reportedly raided amid sex trafficking investigation

Recently, federal agents raided Robert Shinn's home in Tujunga, Los Angeles.
posted by Shreya Ghosh
Sunday 7/27/2025 at 7:30AM EDT
  • TikTok Logo (Image via Getty)
    TikTok Logo (Image via Getty)

    Robert Shinn, a TikTok cult leader, is now at the center of a s*x‑trafficking and fraud investigation. According to the New York Post, the updates on his arrest remain uncertain.

    According to the Los Angeles Times, federal agents raided a property at the 7700 block of McGroarty Street in Tujunga, Los Angeles. The controversial pastor partially owns the residence.

    Reportedly, he is the founder of the Shekinah Church, which was recently discussed widely in Netflix’s docuseries, Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult, released in May 2025.

    Everything we know about Robert Shinn, the controversial TikTok pastor

    Shinn founded Shekinah Church in 1994. Initially, it was a religious community and a sacred worship location for Korean Americans residing in Los Angeles, per the New York Post. In 2021, he launched 7M Films, a talent agency for TikTok creators. Several former influencers from his firm appeared in Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult. Additionally, he is involved with Shinn Entertainment Corp., IP Random Film, IHD Studio, Glory Bag Records, and multiple businesses based in California.

    In March 2023, a group of former dancers and ex-members of the Shekinah Church initiated a civil action naming Robert Shinn, 7M Films, Shekinah Church, and other associated parties as defendants. According to a Today report, the complaint claimed that Robert and his associates subjected individuals "to brainwashing, physical abuse, s*xual abuse, emotional abuse, manipulation, and exploitation."

    Robert is accused of persuading dancers to join his talent agency, 7M Films, by promising to turn them into successful TikTok stars. In addition to fake assurances, he allegedly assaulted several dancers s*xually. He has also been accused of subjecting the dancers to financial and physical abuse, even asking several of them to cut ties with their families.

    A look at the allegations against Robert Shinn and the recent raid at his house

    According to allegations against Shinn, the church has asked its followers to give up their financial resources and time to support its vision of saving a billion souls from eternal damnation. According to a TV Insider report, Hannah Shinn, Robert Shinn's wife, initially refuted allegations linking Shekinah Church to 7M.

    Us Weekly cited a recent report by ABC7 stating that authorities executed multiple warrants and took several individuals into custody at the residence. The local outlet confirmed that "at least seven people were detained."

    The Los Angeles Times confirmed that the recent raid at the pastor's house targeted allegations including s*x trafficking, tax evasion, mail fraud, financial crimes, and COVID-19-related offenses. Agents from the FBI, IRS, and US Postal Service executed the warrants. In a conversation with ABC7, the El Monte Police Department said that its SWAT team is also assisting in the investigation.

    Postal Inspector Patricia Mendoza spoke about the investigation with the Times, as Us Weekly reported. His statement mentioned,

    "U.S. Postal Inspection Service is working closely with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners on this ongoing investigation. This remains an active case, and we are continuing to gather and review information."

    More allegations against Robert Shinn

    A few years ago, in 2022, many former dancers and former supporters of Shinn's church filed a lawsuit against the cult leader. The legal documents accused him and his church of exploitation and labor law offenses. Presently, the case is still ongoing.

    Former Shekinah Church member Jung Hee Lee filed a lawsuit against Shinn in 2011. He made her work full-time while paying her just $30 a week. The court ruled in her favor, ordering Shinn to compensate her for the unpaid labor.

    The New York Post also noted that Lydia Chung sued Robert Shinn in 2009. As per the lawsuit, she took legal action against the TikTok pastor, who allegedly compelled her to surrender $3.8 million in assets by "undue influence, mind control, coercive persuasion, oppression, and other intimidating tactics." Lydia also brought up the fact that she was forced to work six days without pay. Despite the accusations, a judge dismissed her claims and ruled in favor of the church.

    Last year, CNN reported that Robert filed a defamation lawsuit against former church followers, as they called his organization a cult, the Post cited later. Reflecting on shooting Shinn's story, his church, and controversies, and portraying them in Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult, the docuseries director, Derek Doneen, told CNN,

    "It was an opportunity to tell a story in real time — an active story that was still unfolding in front of our eyes. Before we started shooting, the (featured) dancers were still in (the organization). Many of the people who became subjects in the show were people that we didn’t ever really know if we’d get the opportunity to meet and talk to and feature."

    Many former creators from 7M came together to condemn the abuse they reportedly suffered under Shinn's control last May. As the cult pastor has always dismissed all the accusations against him, as cited by Us Weekly, the docuseries also shared his perspective at the end. It ends with a statement,

    "No criminal charges have been brought against Shinn. He has previously denied sexually abusing any member of Shekinah or any client of 7M."


    Several former dancers associated with Shinn took a stand for themselves and spoke out about their experiences publicly. Last year in June, a dancer named Aubrey Fisher expressed his thoughts on the NewsNation show. He shared,

    "My experience in Shekinah was very interesting. [Shinn] wanted to have everybody go see our families, talk to our friends, make sure that everything that you do, post it [online] so that way people can see that everything is normal and everything just looks like we’re not in a cult at all. … That was when I was like, 'OK, this is kinda fishy.'"

    Dancer Miranda Derrick had a contrasting experience when compared with others who raised their voices. Taking to Instagram, she revealed that she did not suffer from the manipulations and abuses. She stated,

    "I want to start by saying that I appreciate the concern that has been expressed for my well-being. Due to pending litigation, in which I am a plaintiff in a defamation lawsuit, it’s not appropriate for me to comment on specific allegations. Though I will state that I do not condone abuse in any way."

    She also looked back on her family's appearance in the docuseries, adding,

    "I love my Mom, Dad and Melanie and they will forever be a part of my life. The truth is, we just don’t see eye to eye at this time. I believe that this documentary is a one-sided story. I gave my life to Jesus Christ in 2020 and asked my family for some space in the very beginning to collect my thoughts and process my new walk I wanted to take with God."

    Miranda further continued,

    "My family didn’t honor the space I asked for and I saw a different side of them I’ve never seen before. Honestly, it made me mad, frustrated and annoyed that they were being so overbearing and chaotic."

    Disclosing her conversation with her sister about spending more time on the 'wilkingsisters' account, she disclosed,

    "I also told my sister that I wanted to continue our wilkingsisters social media page. She logged me out of our account and when I asked for access back she denied my request. So I had no other choice but to start my own account and pursue my own career."

    Follow Primetimer for more updates. 

    TOPICS: Robert Shinn