Vulnerable Children Need Your Help Now!

I just donated to Families Against Cult Teachings; the only 501c3 non-profit of its kind rescuing cult and trafficking victims (especially children) and reuniting them with their families.  It is also the only non-profit group fighting to stop cults from ruining lives and also generating awareness and educating the public about these dangerous groups, manipulation, coercion and trafficking.  Please consider donating today to help Make a Difference in the Lives of Those Who Need it Most:

"I just made a donation to Families Against Cult Teachings, Inc. (501c3), and I thought you would be interested in learning more about this great organization." You can find out more about Families Against Cult Teachings, Inc. (501c3) by visiting www.familiesagainstcultteachings.org You can join me in supporting them at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/fact/donate Thanks, Tibor Stern, the Staff and Board of Directors at F.A.C.T., Inc

2020 is Almost Here!

                                                                 Happy New Year!

We want to take a moment to wish you a Happy New Year and Thank You for your commitment and dedication to our mission of combating manipulation, abusive relationships (intimate relations and in group relations), human trafficking,restoring freedom to survivors and educating the most vulnerable to prevent abuse and ultimately Save Lives!

We are only able to grow the impact of our work because of Your support and generosity. From our staff and board, and on behalf of those whose lives we've impacted, we Thank You and wish you and yours a Very Happy New Year ahead, filled with peace, joy and prosperity!

There is so much darkness and corruption occurring and your help is very much needed. Today is the Last Day to give a tax deductible donation to your charity of choice and we hope you consider helping F.A.C.T. in this Life Saving mission.

Please Help Survivors and Prevent Future Victims - DONATE TODAY

Thank you for helping to enrich the lives of Survivors and Prevent Future Victims.

Sincerely,

The FACT Staff and Board of Directors

Letter from Tibor Stern, President of F.A.C.T.

Tibor Stern with his beloved daughter Sharoni Stern.  Their family's happiness was cut short by her teacher Katsura Kan.

Dear followers of F.A.C.T and friends,

As you may know by now, the ex-Naropa University teacher Katsura Kan was found guilty by Florida courts earlier this year for the wrongful death of one of his students, Sharon Stern, who happened to be my daughter.

I believe this will send a strong message to all cult leaders and abusers as it is an Unprecedented Ruling. Unfortunately, many of them are sociopaths and psychopaths that need to be stopped and held accountable for their actions.

Not to my surprise, a very serious allegation came to our attention by a young

female ex-student of Katsura Kan. As per her allegations, Katsura Kan drugged and raped her. Is this a man that should be allowed to teach our young, aspiring, vulnerable youth in a classroom or theater like he did at Naropa University in Boulder, CO? I call upon all institutions, educators and theaters to stop providing a platform to this evil character which I believe is destroying our youth by teaching them destruction.  

We will publish all names and places that has or will continue to provide him with a platform to teach and/or perform. Hopefully we can prevent him from abusing anymore of his female students.

Sincerely,

Tibor Stern

President, F.A.C.T

Looking Ahead to 2020

Dear Friends and F.A.C.T. Readers,

We are fast approaching the end of the 2019 calendar year.  We at F.A.C.T. are very proud to report to you our major accomplishments with fighting cultic and human abuses. 

We have given much needed guidance in difficult recoveries that were inflicted on vulnerable abuse victims. We are giving support to families of various victims of organized abuse (be it from churches, schools, self-help groups etc). We’ve also been coordinating psychological and psychiatric care for the Survivors of such abuses.

We have coordinated with law enforcement and media in dealing with dangerous cult leaders.

You and We are Making a Difference! 

We have an enormous task ahead of us for 2020.  This year alone, we have received hundreds of major, documented complaints by victims or their families about undue influence, brainwashing, financial, physical, sexual, spiritual and mental abuses.  As you can see that’s what we have been dealing with and will continue to deal with in 2020. 

In addition to the above, we are also putting together a budget and partnering with a Dept of Justice Trained Anti-Trafficking Expert for teaching, lecturing and bringing awareness to students in High Schools, Universities and Entire Communities.  Early Prevention is the Only way to help innocent, vulnerable youth to arm themselves against high control groups and manipulative situations of any kind.  

100% of every dollar that we receive in donations go directly to supporting families, survivors and the prevention of further victims.  As you know, that’s why we receive year after year the Guide Star Platinum Award for transparency. 

Thank you in advance for considering donating to this upmost important cause in our society. With your help and our efforts, Together we will be able to save more of our vulnerable youth and help reunite more loving families in the upcoming years.   

Wishing you all a safe and Happy Holiday Season.

Sincerely,

Tibor Stern

President of F.A.C.T

and The Entire F.A.C.T Team

Mormon Church Mislead Members on 100 Billion Tax Exempt Investment Fund, Whistleblower alleges

Washington Post: "A former investment manager alleges in a whistleblower complaint to the Internal Revenue Service that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has amassed about $100 billion in accounts intended for charitable purposes, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by The Washington Post.

The confidential document, received by the IRS on Nov. 21, accuses church leaders of misleading members — and possibly breaching federal tax rules — by stockpiling their surplus donations instead of using them for charitable works. It also accuses church leaders of using the tax-exempt donations to prop up a pair of businesses.

A spokesman for the church did not respond to detailed questions from The Post about the complaint. “The Church does not provide information about specific transactions or financial decisions,” spokesman Eric Hawkins said in a statement."

Read the Full Article Here

Devastating Loss of Son at the Hands of Campus Crusade for Christ aka CRU

Devastating Loss of Son at the Hands of Campus Crusade for Christ aka CRU

Dec 2, 2019

"I’ve made a lot of new friends in the past 8 years and many of you may not know the story of how we lost our firstborn child. I am also going to share some information that many of my longtime friends may not have even heard yet.

On the morning of December 2, 2011, we received the most unfathomable phone call... that our 23 year old son had “passed away”. He was serving as a missionary in Kazakhstan, a country that is less than 1% Christian and did not even allow missionaries to enter much less live there. (We did not know this!) It wasn’t until the next day when our home was filled with people that we found out he had been murdered. He was found unresponsive on his bed, with a plastic bag over his head, a sheet tied around his neck and a pillow over his head. (The horror).

The organization he was with was called Campus Crusade for Christ and now goes by CRU (they can’t use the name of Christ anymore because it’s too dangerous). They assured us that they would get to the bottom of it and find out who did this and why. The regional office (Raleigh) of this organization called a private meeting with us right away (little did we know, they were trying to begin their damage control). At first they were loving and kind, but after the memorial service, things began to go down hill. They wanted no memorial fund, and absolutely no memorial of any kind. (They really just wanted this story to go away).

We went to Orlando, Florida to their headquarters. It was a beautiful sprawling campus, hundreds of acres with a huge gate and meticulous landscaping. (Hmmmm) The guard would not allow us entry! Not even a drive around! (What were they hiding?) Prior to our visit, we requested a meeting with the President of this $800,000,000 a year organization and were told he was too busy. Our son had just died on his watch and he was “too busy”. His name is Steve Douglass. Later on, this organization even tried to imply that Travis may have done this to himself! Really!? That’s how badly they wanted this story to go away.

Over the past 8 years, we have received countless messages from all over the country from parents wanting to know more about “this organization”. Virtually all of these folks were reaching out in desperation because of their own horror stories with their impressionable young adult children. Mind you, these kids are ALL college graduates (only the best...) It’s always the same theme too. Could this be a cult? Are they being brainwashed? Why can’t we get answers? Why is there so much secrecy?

My brother is a lawyer and he did some digging of his own. He found pages and pages of information on “what to do if your parents object”.

We reached out to our Senator, Lindsay Graham and he was able to assist us in opening an FBI investigation. This went on for several years, but left us empty. Our agent retired and our case was closed.

We have never gone public with our concerns, but we have many. We were naive and didn’t ask enough hard questions. Maybe someone reading this will learn something or think differently or ask harder questions. Feel free to share. We don’t know who might need to see this.

We were proud of Travis and we wanted him to spread his wings, but Gosh Darn! The devil is out there, be aware! Life without Travis has been hard. He would be 31 if he were still with us. It didn’t have to end this way.

If you have questions, please feel free to ask. If you have ideas, please share them. If you have input, please give it. We are wide open. God Bless y’all."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We receive many support calls and emails from parents who's children are off to college and have joined up with church groups of some kind or another and are planning on going to other countries on missionary work. It sounds all great and exciting for the students, traveling, having a purpose, feeling like they are making a difference etc. This is an area of great concern from our perspective. 

We are trying to help support the family in their fight to expose this group and get some much needed answers, if you have any information or specific experiences with this particular group CRU feel free to reach out and file a complaint with any supporting evidence you may have. Any information is appreciated. Here is the link to do that: File a Complaint  

Our deepest condolences to the family!  

Sincerely, 

The F.A.C.T. Inc Team

Dec 2019 Newsletter - Giving Tuesday

What is F.A.C.T. Giving ? 

 Transparency is Important and we proudly hold Guidestars Platinum Seal of Transparency .

How are we actually assisting survivors of predatory groups, trafficking and abusive situations? How are we assisting in Preventing vulnerable, unsuspecting people from being victimized in the first place?

Here are a few ways F.A.C.T. is Giving.

Legal - Earlier this year, President of F.A.C.T., Tibor Stern on Behalf of Sharon Stern Estate, in his personal case, has accomplished an Unprecedented Ruling in the wrongful death lawsuit against cult leader Katsura Kan.

This will forever impact future cases of similar circumstances!

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure!

Our Preventative Education & Anti-Human Trafficking Initiatives are well under way and 2020 holds more effective Education, Awareness and Prevention for many young adults, families and communities. Our work has, is and will continue to save lives and save families!

Support for Survivors and Families

Our efforts are resulting in families receiving much needed, specific information and support to better evaluate their unique circumstances and better educate themselves moving forward - which is crucial and ultimately can result in saving family relationships and lives! Our collaborative relationships and programs are resulting in Survivors receiving valuable resources to actually Recover and Rebuild their lives such as therapeutic counseling, books, materials and real peer to peer support. Here's what Survivors of the NXIVM Trafficking cult recently wrote in to us and said: "Naomi and Deb chose F.A.C.T for the event Deprogrammed - A Night of Comedy after working to expose a cult they were both in called NXIVM. We think F.A.C.T. and the organizations resources are extremely beneficial for ex-members, families of members, or people looking to educate themselves on what destructive organizations can do. F.A.C.T. has supported in our healing and the work they are doing needs to be celebrated. All my best, Naomi" If you are in the Los Angeles area Dec 19th, here are the details of their event. Deprogrammed - A Night of Comedy

We are a team centered in creating programs and collaborative relationships that result in Real Prevention and Support and we can not do what we do without the public's help.

If you would like to help us Organize Preventative Education & Anti-Trafficking workshop for your community please contact us at 877-360-FACT (3228) or email us at Support@FamiliesAgainstCultTeachings.org

If you would like to contribute and support our initiatives and collaborative efforts your tax deductible donation is needed and very appreciated. Here is the link to our online donation center

https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/fact

If you're a regular shopper on Amazon and would like to support us at the same time, please click the link below to select F.A.C.T. as your charity of choice. It's easy and no cost to you. https://smile.amazon.com/ch/45-5207116

We have much to share with you in the coming weeks, please be on the look out for our next newsletter and email.

Thank you for your continued interest and support in this very important cause. Your support is resulting in Real Prevention and Real Support for Survivors and those Advocating for victims.

Warmest Regards,

The F.A.C.T. Team

People Share the Moment They Realized Their Friend was a Sociopath

These stories are very eye opening!

"The “Aha” Moment Involved Brownies

I was making some brownies. My sister was visiting for some reason…maybe it was Christmas. Anyway, I like my brownies gooey and hot, so I’m cutting into them a little earlier than I should. Sister flips all the way out and starts beating on me, grabbing heavier and more dangerous weapons from whatever she can reach (pans, rolling pins, etc.). It becomes a scuffle where she keeps screaming “Stop hitting me!” while all I’m doing is grabbing her wrists to avoid taking one to the head."

Read All the Stories Here

Educate Yourself and your loved ones about Predatory Personalities

The F.A.C.T. Team 

$150 Billion Trafficking Industry in Birmingham - What Can Be Done?

"Kathy Jackson was a typical college student in the mid-1980s when she went to Chicago for spring break to attend a jazz festival with a group of friends she had met in college.

She did not expect to become trapped in a human trafficking ring for more than three decades.

“I really thought they were students at the college [I attended], but they were not,” recalled Jackson. “They were finding out information about me—where I was from, who my mom is, who my dad is, what they do for a living, typical questions. When you’re in college, you don’t have a reason to wonder why people would ask.Jackson said initially she was reluctant about the trip to Chicago.

“My gut was telling me not to go,” she said. “But the free spirit in me was like, ‘No, it’ll be fun. I can work on what I need to do later.’”

“We were in this nice hotel, and they were saying we were going to lunch. I said I was going to go study, and they said, ‘No, no come. It’ll be fun.’ I was reluctant again, but the free spirit in me said, ‘It’s nothing.’”

Jackson said they went to a beautiful condo—where she was assaulted, raped, and repeatedly beaten.

That was the beginning of a devastating odyssey, during which Jackson was trafficked all over the world.

“There are only two continents I haven’t been on and only five states I haven’t been in for more than a day,” she said.

Now living in Alabama, Jackson said she has a full-time job and attends Miles College."

Read Full Article by: Birmingham Times Here 

The most effective way to combat this epidemic of Trafficking - both Sex Trafficking and Labor Trafficking is through Preventative Education! Our youth are the main targets for traffickers and predators. We must be smarter then the predators, 10 steps ahead of them and we Must Educate and Safeguard our Youth before predators get to them first. 

Help us Organize and Sponsor Anti-Trafficking Workshops in your Community. Here is the link to more details about our Anti-Trafficking Initiative

Thank you,
The F.A.C.T. Team 

Florida Becomes First State to Teach Human Trafficking Prevention in Schools

"The State Board of Education has unanimously approved a new rule requiring instruction in child trafficking prevention for students in grades K-12. With this approval, Florida will be the first state in the nation to address the need for instruction in child trafficking prevention.

The new rule also establishes procedures for school districts to plan and document delivery of the required instruction.

Florida is third in the nation for numbers of reported cases of human trafficking, and the average age of trafficked youth is 11 to 13 years old. In 2018, there were 767 human trafficking cases reported in Florida. Of those cases, 149 were minors. Up to 70 percent of sex trafficking and exploitation begins with predators connecting with youth online. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, one out of eight endangered runaway youth is likely a victim of human trafficking."

Read Full Article Here

Scientology's Leader, David Miscavige Has Been Served!

"Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige Opens in New Window has finally been served in the scathing child trafficking and kidnapping lawsuit filed by ex-member Valerie Haney.

In court papers obtained from Los Angeles Superior Court, Miscavige, 59, was served on October 10, 2019 at Church of Scientology International in Los Angeles, California.

According to the process server, the documents were left with a “John Doe,” who is listed as a “Front Desk Agent.”

The documents were also mailed to the Defendants.
 
The Sea Org, in large part, functions by way of human trafficking, including the trafficking of children,” the filing read. “Defendants engage in the forced labor of adults and children in the Sea Org. Defendants have made billions off the backs of men, women, and children who are trafficked and forced to work 75 to 100 hour weeks for far below the minimum wage with little to no free time or vacation under the threat of severe punishment for failure to perform their work duties.”

Read Full Article Here

 
From what we have gathered from former members of Scientology there are many former and current executives within the organization that should be held accountable for these charges.

As with the NXIVM case, the leader Kieth Raniere wasn't the only one responsible for the harmful acts committed against the vulnerable woman.

But we will have to wait and see how this plays out in the courts, for now it is some progress.

Voluntary & Free Therapy Program for Survivors of Sexual Violence - Palm Springs Area

We are collaborating with Ending Clergy Abuse to help promote this Voluntary and Free therapy program for survivors of sexual violence. Details below.

"Volunteers are needed to participate in a new art-based therapy program for victim-survivors of sexual violence. The program will take place in the greater Palm Springs area in California, November 15-17, 2019. 

Participants will spend two nights at the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa where the workshop will take place. 

This workshop is being offered for research purposes and has been approved by Penn State University's Institutional Review Board. If you are interested in participating or would just like to learn more please contact Chaarvi Modi at cxm1268@psu.edu or Tel: 814-360-9661."

  

We are also starting to schedule Anti-Trafficking workshops. We are in need of local Organizers and Sponsors to help us get this life saving education to communities around the USA. 

Support is needed to help survivors of abuse, trafficking, cult groups, predators and to help in the Preventative Education efforts. Please make your in-kind donation today - it is greatly needed and appreciated.  Please Give What You Can Today

Please share. 

Thank you, 

The FACT Team 

Jehovah's Witness Elder Gets 80 Years for Sexually Assualting 4 Children

"CLEBURNE COUNTY, Ark. — A church leader convicted of sexually assaulting children has been sentenced to 80 years in prison.

Roderick Watkins, 57, received the jury’s verdict last week in Cleburne county.

Watkins was an elder in the Jehovah’s Witness church, according to court documents.

Court documents reveal that at least four people came forward over the past year, accusing Watkins of sexually assaulting them while they were children. The four victims included three boys and one girl.

Cleburne county sheriff, Chris Brown, says six other people came forward as the trial neared, bringing the total number of accusers to 10.

The state prosecuted Watkins on four charges. He received the maximum penalty, 20 years, for each one."

Read Full Article Here

Judge Held Prosecutors in Contempt for Not Turning Evidence Over in Case Against La Luz del Mundo

Sept 19, 2019 LA Times Article:

"A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge held state prosecutors in contempt Thursday for not turning evidence over in the sexual abuse case against the leader of La Luz Del Mundo and two of his followers.

Judge Teresa Sullivan fined Deputy Atty. Gens. Amanda Plisner and Diana Callaghan $5,000 each for violating a court order to hand over materials to attorneys representing Alondra Ocampo, Susana Oaxaca and Naason Joaquin Garcia, leader of La Luz del Mundo, an international church based in Mexico with more than 5 million members. His followers call him the apostle of Jesus Christ.

The judge told prosecutors they have until Friday morning to turn over the evidence.

Garcia and the two co-defendants were arrested in June and charged with 26 felony counts that include child rape, production of child pornography and human trafficking. All three have pleaded not guilty. Garcia, who was hit with a historic $50-million bail early in the case remains in custody, as does Ocampo. A fourth defendant remains at large.

During the hearing, Sullivan told prosecutors they have been given more than “ample opportunity to comply” with the order to turn over evidence to the defense.

Prosecutors have said they have had a hard time combing through the evidence, in part because they haven’t been able to determine what can be handed over to the defense team and what can’t.

The judge said the court has taken much of that into account but that despite the amount of time the prosecution has been given, it was in violation of the court’s order.

“We are here at preliminary hearing, Mr. Garcia and Ms. Ocampo remained in custody and their attorneys have not been provided the information,” Sullivan said. “This is a violation of the court’s order and at this time I’m finding the government in contempt.”

Attorneys for the defendants declined to comment on Thursday’s hearing.

Prosecutors alleged that Garcia and the co-defendants sexually abused three girls and a woman in Los Angeles County between 2015 and 2018. Prosecutors said the victims were coerced into performing sexual acts and were told if they went against any of Garcia’s desires or wishes as “the Apostle” they were going against God.

Prosecutors have accused Garcia of using his position in power to take advantage and exploit young women. They alleged that he received numerous child pornography images and videos. They have said they expect the case to possibly include more victims.

Meanwhile Ocampo, a former college student, has been accused of being the “groomer and recruiter” of all the young women who were allegedly sexually assaulted by Garcia. In court, Plisner has said that Oaxaca was Garcia’s assistant.

Attorneys for Garcia have said thousands of female church members are ready to testify for him. They’ve called his bail amount unconstitutional and argued against Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra’s assertion that Garcia could raise money among his followers to post bail and flee even though the church does not permit its funds or assets to be spent to pay for criminal defense or bail.

Since his arrest the church has maintained its support of Garcia and the co-defendants.

At Thursday’s hearing, all three defendants sat quietly as Sullivan heard attorneys from both sides. When the hearing was over, deputies escorted Garcia and Ocampo back to their holding cells. Oaxaca, wearing a long black skirt and long sleeve shirt, walked back to her family. Elsewhere in the court, supporters nodded and smiled in agreement with Sullivan’s order."

Sept 19, 2019 LA Times Article

Scientology Policy Enabled Years of Child Sexual Abuse, Lawsuit says

"According to the complaint filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court on Wednesday, Scientology operatives cut the brake lines on the woman’s car, vandalized her property, followed and surveilled her, and harassed her with hundreds of spam calls.

The woman is referred to in the complaint only as Jane Doe for fear of more retaliation by the church.

The lawsuit names Miscavige, Scientology’s Flag Service Organization, its Religious Technology Center, Church of Scientology International and Clearwater Academy as defendants against allegations from sexual battery to racketeering and negligence.

With no criminal charges brought upon Scientology despite years of allegations of criminal activity, a team of a dozen victims’ rights attorneys are using civil court to expose the church’s alleged institutional abuses. The team, which filed its first complaint in June, includes a constitutional scholar and a lawyer who successfully prosecuted Bill Cosby on sexual assault charges."

It's shocking that so many former top executives such as Mike Rinder, Debbie Cook and Marty Rathbun have left the church and told stories of all sorts of alleged abuses that they "witnessed" and endured - telling their stories in blogs, documentaries, in court, in books and even 3 seasons of a TV series and yet there still hasn't been anything effective done to shut this machine down !

Maybe Miss Jane Doe can get the job done that no former "executive" has been able to - time will tell! We wish her all the best in her fight for justice!  

Read Full Article Here 

 

Announcement: Anti-Human Trafficking Initiative

Did you know Experts believe Labor Trafficking is far more widespread than sex trafficking?

Facts & Statistics

Based on the latest report from Polaris Project , Human Trafficking (Sex & Labor) is up 25%.

Globally, as well as in the U.S. Experts believe Labor Trafficking is far more widespread than sex trafficking.

Here are just a couple of recent examples in the news of Labor Trafficking in Faith Based Communities - which by the way, we receive reports about almost daily!

CA - Church Leaders Charged in Forced Labor of Homeless U.S. Attorney says  

AL - Religious Boarding School Owners Arrested on Labor Trafficking Students

We receive calls and emails daily and in a lot of those cases the bottom line is many faith based 501-C3 non-profits are exploiting and trafficking vulnerable youth and adults all in the name of "god" or "salvation".

It's an Epidemic and it's Appalling!

Not only do victims suffer mentally, emotionally and physically but in many cases they are ruined financially and can not afford proper therapy in the aftermath of abuse and exploitation, which can then lead to a host of potential future problems such as depression, drug/alcohol addiction and even suicide.

We're dedicated to helping survivors however we can.

We are proud to announce our collaboration with California Community Foundation to assist Survivors of the NXIVM Cult and Trafficking Ring in receiving the much needed therapy and resources to help them recover from their experiences.

Quality therapy and resources can make all the difference for a survivor climbing their way back up! We are very happy to be directly assisting these Survivors in the Healing and Rebuilding process!

These cult and trafficking rings are at Epidemic proportions and that means the number of victims are at an all time high as well!

When there is an epidemic - what is the best course of action? That's right PREVENTION!

What is F.A.C.T. doing about this epidemic?

We are excited and proud to announce we've formed a collaboration with Trafficking expert Dottie Laster. She is 1 of only 80 people trained by the Dept of Justice in Anti-Trafficking.

We will be holding Preventative Education and Training Events in locations across the U.S. and in places like College and University Campuses - which is where many cults and traffickers lure and recruit their next victims.

We Must Reach & Educate the Most Vulnerable, Targeted Individuals to Help Put a Stop to this Epidemic!

Here's where we need help.

Become an Organizer:

To schedule an event in your area call 1-877-360-FACT or email us at Support@FamiliesAgainstCultTeachings.org

Become a Sponsor:

Help us get these Life Saving Education and Training Events delivered in locations across the U.S. to Universities, Parents, Students, Educators, Local Officials & Professionals and Open to the Public!

Please Donate Today

Thank you,

The FACT Team

CA - Church Leaders Charged in Forced Labor of Homeless U.S. Attorney says

"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 said.

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. 

 

The ministry operates nondenominational churches and group homes in the United States and Mexico."

 

Full article Here

Human Trafficking Cases Jump 25% in 2018

According to the Polaris Project, Human Trafficking is up 25% in 2018.

"Cases of labor trafficking decreased by 2 percent, indicating that the current climate of fear in immigrant and minority communities is likely suppressing reports to the National Hotline. Globally, as well as in the United States, experts believe labor trafficking is far more widespread than sex trafficking. 

Yet, the cases reported to the National Hotline rarely reflect that. A total of 1,249 cases of labor trafficking were reported in 2018, compared to 1,276 in 2017. 

This World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, as human trafficking reports are on the rise but labor trafficking cases continue to be under reported, it is imperative to remember that human trafficking comes in all forms, not just sex trafficking. It is time to shift the narrative and help connect survivors of the 25 types of human trafficking to services and support."

Read full article Here

Here is their list of 25 types of human trafficking: 

Recreational Facilities

Health Care Industry

Forestry & Logging 

Carnivals

Remote Interactive Sexual Acts 

Factories & Manufacturing  

Commercial Cleaning Services

Arts & Entertainment

Illicit Acts 

Landscaping

Hotels & Hospitality 

Construction

Health & Beauty Services 

Personal Sexual Servitude

Agriculture & Animal Husbandry 

Peddling & Begging 

Restaurants & Food Service

Traveling Sales Crews

Pornography

Bars, Strip Clubs & Cantinas

Domestic Work

Residential 

Outdoor Solicitation 

Illicit Massage, Health & Beauty

Escort Services 

Our reports indicate a lot of labor trafficking and exploitation is occurring in faith based communities, which are mostly all approved as 501c3 non-profit, tax exempt organizations - as well as spiritual enlightenment / self-help / half-way house type groups - which are Not regulated at all.  

We have put in a call to the Polaris Project to see about collaboration.

The FACT Team

Religious Boarding School Owners Arrested on Labor Trafficking Students

"The owners of a religious boarding school that was once raided in Alabama have been arrested in Baldwin County and transported to Texas to face human trafficking charges.

Gary Dwayne Wiggins, 49, and wife Meghann Shereen Wiggins, 34, were arrested in Alabama shortly after a Texas grand jury indicted them Aug. 6 on one count each of human trafficking, according to the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office in Texas.

 

The couple are accused of forcing four underage boys to work for a lawn care company they owned, according to court documents."

Read the Full Story HERE 

 

15 Apps Parents Need to Know About to Help Protect Their Kids

"With several recent reports of arrests made after online predator and human trafficking stings, law enforcement officers around the country are reminding parents about potentially dangerous apps their kids could have access to."

See video and list of Apps Here 

 

Evangelical Megachurch Sued for More Than $1 Million in Child Sexual Abuse Case

"A woman who said she was sexually abused as a child by a pastor at one of the country’s most prominent evangelical megachurches sued the church on Friday, alleging gross negligence and seeking more than $1 million in damages.

The case against the Village Church — which is based in Flower Mound, Tex., outside Dallas, and is led by Matt Chandler — is perhaps the most high-profile current lawsuit alleging child sexual abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention. It comes as the largest Protestant denomination in the United States has vowed to address widespread sexual abuse in its congregations.

The suit alleges that the church was “willfully negligent” in its failure to protect a child in its care from being sexually assaulted. It also says the church is liable for the actions of the pastor, who was removed from the staff last year. The woman is seeking damages after she says the abuse caused emotional distress, including an ongoing struggle with depression."

Read Full New York Times Article HERE

Enough of the Lies! Naropa University and Shambhala Mountain Center Boulder, CO

"As a recent graduate of Naropa University in Boulder, repeat visitor of Shambhala Mountain Center, and longtime student of Shambhala I felt compelled to reach out to the Daily Camera this week. As you may already know, news has been coming out all month about Shambhala assisting multiple pedophiles in avoiding prosecution.

The word back from Naropa has been “we are disconnected from Shambhala for decades.” The word from Shambhala has been “we could have done better.” As someone who has attended both organizations, I now find myself deeply ashamed for every dollar and minute they got of mine.

In my time studying at Naropa University I was repeatedly told that Naropa and its contemplative approach to education come directly from the teachings of Chogyam Trungpa. The Shambhala school of Buddhism was covered extensively in Buddhist Psychology Part 1 and 2, maitri (a meditation invented by Trungpa), as well as Senior Seminar Part 1 and 2. All of these classes were mandatory for my contemplative psychology degree. The majority of these classes were taught by ex-followers of Trungpa. Upon the recommendation of the college I went on retreat at Shambhala Mountain Center yearly and took Shambhala meditation classes at the Boulder Shambhala Center.

I write this because the idea that Naropa and Shambhala are separate is as much a lie as that Naropa is a secular university.

I am deeply ashamed to hear that Shambhala has repeatedly stepped between pedophiles and any meaningful repercussions for their actions, but I cannot say I am surprised.

Trungpa slept with his students. This has always been known. His son Sakyang Mipham was accused of sexual assault last year. I repeatedly heard about Naropa teachers having sexual relationships with students in my time as a Naropa student. I personally witnessed Naropa teachers dating students they had taught. I repeatedly heard about a situation where a Naropa student was in a sexual relationship with with a teacher’s underage son.

This is what I heard as a nontraditional Naropan trying to keep my head down and just get to graduation. I can only imagine what other stories exist. As the Denver post quoted a former Shambhala Mountain Center staff member in its last article about the allegations: “Every young girl I knew had something happen.”

Enough of the lies."

https://www.dailycamera.com/2019/07/09/opinion-darryl-collette-enough-of-the-lies-about-naropa-and-shambhala/

Tiebten Buddhisms 'Rape' and Abuse Scandal

"One of the best-known figures in Tibetan Buddhism has been accused of rape, sexual assault, beatings, and psychological abuse in an extraordinary new insider account.

Sogyal Rinpoche—the founder of a leading Buddhist organization—is accused by two women of “rape” and “non-consensual” sex in a book that will be published Thursday.

Mimi Durand said she had tried to block out the emotional torment before accepting what had happened to her. “I realized I’d been raped,” she told the book’s authors.

A second woman alleged that Sogyal had forced her into non-consensual sex at a building belonging to Rigpa—Sogyal’s Buddhist organization—in northwest London.

A third woman gives a shocking account in the book of the way she says the lama took advantage of her when she went to him looking for help in overcoming the grief of losing her father.

A fourth, Oane Bijlsma, a Dutch woman who was once part of Sogyal’s inner circle, claimed: “It’s a BDSM cult minus a safe word.”

Read full article Here


The FACT Team  

Research on Cult Conversion by University of Cordoba - Spain

We are helping University of Cordoba in Spain in their research on cult conversion and the affects on families. Please read more and find the link below. 

"I am currently working on a research in the Department of Psychology at the University of Córdoba (Spain). This research aims to analyze how families experience the cult conversion of a loved one, in order to identify many other variables of interest. This investigation can shed evidence of the seriousness of the problem of cults in spanish and english-speaking countries, as well as the need for better specialized attention to victims and their families.

For participation in this investigation it is only necessary that a family member of a victim (parents, siblings, cousins, couples) complete an online questionnaire of less than 30 minutes. That is why we would appreciate your collaboration sharing the questionnaire with affected families and through social networks, in order to facilitate us the access to the sample and allow this research to go ahead."

If you would like to participate in this research here is the link to the questionnaire: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2rwTrseL0K48MtsL0Cur_dSCbpeHatorDGH9aGWbbWUMWIg/viewform

Thank you for your participation.

Sincerely,
The FACT Team  

Ex Naropa Teacher, Katsura Kans Appeal - Denied

Ex Naropa teacher, Katsura Kan was found guilty on March 18, 2019 in the wrongful death of one of his students, Sharon Stern.

Kan filed an appeal and that appeal was Denied and Dismissed on June 10, 2019.

Tibor Stern
on Behalf of Sharon Stern Estate

Shambhala International Fights to Survive in Face of Sex Scandal

"BOULDER, Colo. (RNS) — The sexual misconduct scandal rocking Shambhala International, one of the largest Buddhist organizations in the West, is causing the organization to suffer financially, and many of their properties and programs are being sold off or downsized.

Started in the 1970s by the Tibetan Buddhist teacher Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, who also founded Naropa University, Shambhala has been embroiled in crisis since last summer, when Trungpa’s son and the organization’s current spiritual leader, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, was accused of sexual misconduct.

Since the initial report, more allegations have been made against other senior teachers in Shambhala, suggesting a pattern of cover-ups and failure to address sexual misconduct at the upper levels of the group’s leadership.

But at the heart of Shambhala’s financial woes is the fact that, since the allegations broke, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche has stepped back from his leadership role and is no longer teaching. Much of the organization’s revenue was generated from his teachings.

Shambhala’s entire governing board, the Kalapa Council, resigned when the scandal broke in July of last year and was replaced with an interim board that is attempting to hold the organization together. As they attempt to change Shambhala’s culture and regain the trust of their followers, they are also struggling with a drop in revenue.

According to a statement released by the interim board in March, revenue is down almost 60 percent from the beginning of 2018, and the organization has a debt of more than 1.3 million, with the entire amount due in August."

Read full article Here

Katsura Kan, Teacher Found Guilty in Wrongful Death Suit Sch'd to Perform in Paris

Katsura Kan, Butoh dance teacher who was found guilty and liable in 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Broward County, FL in the wrongful death of one of his students, is scheduled to perform on May 27,28,29 and June 1, 2019 at:

Espace Culturel Bertin Poiree
Franco Japanese Cultural Association of Tenri
8-12, rue Berlin Poiree Chatelet,
Port-Neuf

It is unacceptable in our society, for a Hitler sympathizer who as a teacher, was found liable for the wrongful death of one of his students Sharon Stern, to be promoted and given a platform by institutions to continue his evil teachings and exploitation of innocent minds.

Psychological Evaluation of Sharon Stern

Guilty Verdict

 

I hope you will understand the severity of his crime and stop his performance.

If you don’t agree with the Japan Cultural Association and the organizers decision to give a platform for Katsura Kan, you may express your ideas and feelings about this issue in a direct email or phone call to them. 

bertin.poiree@tenri-paris.com    Tel: +33 (0) 144 76 06 06 

FRENCH TRANSLATION:

Katsura Kan, une enseignante déclarée coupable dans une affaire de mort injustifiée, doit se produire à Paris. 

Katsura Kan, enseignante de danse butoh, déclarée coupable et passible devant le 17e tribunal judiciaire de première instance du comté de Broward, Floride, du décès injustifié de l'un de ses élèves, doit se produire les 27, 28 et 29 mai et le 1er juin 2019 à:

Espace Culturel Bertin Poiree

Association Culturelle Franco-Japonaise de Tenri

Franco Japanese Cultural Association of Tenri

8-12 rue Bertin Poiree,  Chatelet, Paris , France

Pont-Neuf

S'il vous plaît entrez ici le photo de l'événement comme indiqué sur le site

lLe deuxième paragraphe 

Il est inacceptable dans notre société, pour un sympathisant Hitlérien qui, en tant qu'enseignant, a été reconnu coupable de la mort injustifiée de l'une de ses étudiantes, Sharon Stern, d'être promu et incité par les institutions à poursuivre ses mauvais enseignements et à exploiter des esprits innocents. 

S'il vous plaît entrez ici le photo de l'événement comme indiqué sur le site

Le 3ème paragraphe

Le verdict du tribunal rendu le 18 mars 2019. Requête en jugement sommaire partiel: 

Sur la responsabilité des défendeurs pour le décès erroné de Sharon Stern

S'il vous plaît entrez ici le photo de l'événement comme indiqué sur le site

Thank You,
Tibor Stern on Behalf of Sharon Stern Estate.