California church leaders 'used homeless as forced labour'
The leaders of a California based-church have been accused of imprisoning homeless people, forcing them to beg all day and taking the money.
Dozens of victims had their papers taken, their welfare benefits stolen and were punished if they spoke of "things of the world", officials say.
Imperial Valley Ministries (IVM) operates about 30 affiliate church groups in the US and Mexico.
A dozen of the group's leaders were arrested on Tuesday.
The former pastor of Imperial Valley Ministries, Victor Gonzalez, was detained in San Diego.
Eleven others were held in El Centro, California, and Brownsville, Texas.
The defendants are facing charges of conspiracy, forced labour, document servitude and benefits fraud.
The church, which represents its pastors as "missionaries to drug addicts", lured victims by promising them food and shelter and opportunities to get back on their feet at "no cost", federal officials say.
Victims were allegedly locked in group homes, and forced to beg for nine hours a day, six days a week.
According to prosecutors, victims were told "the only thing to be read is the holy bible" and "if any of the rules are broken there will be discipline".
Punishments included the withholding of food, and if they asked to leave they were told their children would be taken away, it is alleged.
Church leaders refused to allow a diabetic victim with low blood sugar to obtain medicine, said officials. She was able to escape.
They were also banned from using the telephone, and told to avoid their family because "only God" loved them now, said officials.
If they did manage to leave, church leaders continued to withhold their money, along with important documents such as immigration paperwork and food benefit cards.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-49667769
They are doing God's work!!
The leaders of a California based-church have been accused of imprisoning homeless people, forcing them to beg all day and taking the money.
Dozens of victims had their papers taken, their welfare benefits stolen and were punished if they spoke of "things of the world", officials say.
Imperial Valley Ministries (IVM) operates about 30 affiliate church groups in the US and Mexico.
A dozen of the group's leaders were arrested on Tuesday.
The former pastor of Imperial Valley Ministries, Victor Gonzalez, was detained in San Diego.
Eleven others were held in El Centro, California, and Brownsville, Texas.
The defendants are facing charges of conspiracy, forced labour, document servitude and benefits fraud.
The church, which represents its pastors as "missionaries to drug addicts", lured victims by promising them food and shelter and opportunities to get back on their feet at "no cost", federal officials say.
Victims were allegedly locked in group homes, and forced to beg for nine hours a day, six days a week.
According to prosecutors, victims were told "the only thing to be read is the holy bible" and "if any of the rules are broken there will be discipline".
Punishments included the withholding of food, and if they asked to leave they were told their children would be taken away, it is alleged.
Church leaders refused to allow a diabetic victim with low blood sugar to obtain medicine, said officials. She was able to escape.
They were also banned from using the telephone, and told to avoid their family because "only God" loved them now, said officials.
If they did manage to leave, church leaders continued to withhold their money, along with important documents such as immigration paperwork and food benefit cards.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-49667769
They are doing God's work!!
The meek shall inherit the Earth, the rest of us will fly to the stars.
Never underestimate the power of very stupid people in large groups
Arguing with an engineer is like wrestling with a pig in mud ..... after a while you realise that the pig likes it!
Never underestimate the power of very stupid people in large groups
Arguing with an engineer is like wrestling with a pig in mud ..... after a while you realise that the pig likes it!
