Kansas Cult Leaders Convicted for Child Labor, Abuse in Overcrowded, Infested Facilities

A Kansas-based cult has been convicted for subjecting children to inhumane and forced labor conditions in rodent-infested facilities. Six defendants, including high-ranking members, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit forced labor. The children were forced to work up to 16 hours a day without pay, subjected to beatings, and lived in overcrowded, unhygienic conditions.

Details of the Conviction

The defendants were either high-ranking members of the organization formerly known as the United Nation of Islam and the Value Creators, or were wives of the late founder, Royall Jenkins. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the verdict, highlighting the horrific conditions the child victims endured under the cult's practices.

After a 26-day trial, jurors convicted all six defendants of conspiring to commit forced labor. One defendant, Kaaba Majeed, 50, was convicted on five counts of forced labor. The FBI's Special Agent Stephen Cyrus described the victims' experiences as inhumane and abhorrent, with some as young as eight years old.

Abusive Practices and Living Conditions

The cult's members imposed severe dietary restrictions, physically beat the children, and subjected them to extreme punishments. In one disturbing incident, a victim was held upside down over train tracks as punishment for allegedly stealing food. Another child resorted to drinking toilet water out of desperation due to extreme thirst. The children were coerced into living in overcrowded facilities infested with mold, mice, and rats.

Strict rules governed their lives, dictating what they could read, how they dressed, and what they ate. The children were subjected to forced medical procedures, such as colonics, and endured being locked in dark basements as punishment. They were even threatened with tales of "eternal hellfire" if they attempted to leave the cult.

Background of the Cult

The cult, formerly known as the United Nation of Islam and the Value Creators, was led by Royall Jenkins, who died in 2021. Jenkins had previously been a member of the Nation of Islam until 1978 when he established the separate United Nation of Islam. He garnered a following by persuading them of his alleged extraterrestrial experiences and claimed divine guidance to rule the Earth. At its peak, the cult had hundreds of followers.

Starting in October 2000, the organization engaged in various businesses, such as gas stations and restaurants, across several states, exploiting unpaid labor from its members and their children. Parents were even encouraged to send their children to an unlicensed school in Kansas City, Kansas, which failed to provide proper education.

Convicted Members and Legal Ramifications

The convictions were not limited to the six defendants. Two other co-defendants had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit forced labor. The cult's actions had led to severe legal ramifications, including an order to pay $8 million to a woman who reported spending 10 years performing unpaid labor for the group. Sentencing hearings for the children labor case are scheduled to take place in February.

The sentences for the convicted defendants could result in significant prison time. Kaaba Majeed faces up to 20 years in prison, while the other defendants could each receive sentences of up to five years behind bars. The severity of the cruelty inflicted upon the child victims has led to a strong legal response against those involved in perpetuating the cult's abusive practices.

The tribe's practices represented a deplorable violation of human rights and have triggered a strong legal response against those who participated in perpetuating its abusive practices. The case underscores the need for vigilance against such organizations that exploit vulnerable individuals, particularly children, and subject them to extreme suffering.