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Authorities say the home featured in Netflix Docuseries “Dancing for the Devil: The 7m Tiktok Cult” was attacked Friday in connection with investigations into sex trafficking, money laundering and other charges.
Property records show that the home in the 7700 block of the Macro Artist Reet in Tujunga is linked to multiple owners, including Shekina Church pastor Robert Singh and the subject of the 2024 Docusary. He supports social media stars and runs a talented agency that helps Tiktok dancers find work in Los Angeles.
For the record:
6:03 PM July 25, 2025 An earlier version of this story misidentified the pastor of Shekina Church. His name is Robert.
The ones featured in the Docusary call Shin the abusive cult leader. They say that he has kept them away from their families by telling them that in order for him to be saved he needs to “die” to his loved ones who do not follow his teachings. He reportedly said that if they were “respectfully” enough, they would save their families from damage.
Early Friday morning, the property of Tujunga’s macro artist Reit, associated with the “Tiktok cult,” was attacked by federal officials. The officer reportedly plunged through two gates of the property mentioned above.
(Katerina Portela/Los Angeles Times)
The U.S. Postal Service, the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of Labor served as warrants from home around 6am on Friday, according to the El Monte Police Department, which provided assistance with the FBI.
The search was linked to allegations of sex trafficking, money laundering, tax evasion and fraud related to the Covid-19 pandemic era. According to the El Monte Police Department, SWAT officials were on the scene to help.
Postal inspector Patricia Mendoza said in a prepared statement that staff will provide more details as the investigation progresses.
“The US Postal Inspection Service is working closely with local, state and federal law enforcement partners on this ongoing investigation. This is an active case and continues to gather and review information,” Mendoza said.
Law enforcement, well-versed in the investigation, says the federal warrant is linked to the cult allegedly featured in Netflix Docusary, but details of the investigation remain under a federal court seal.
KTLA news footage showed several people handcuffed outside the residence, but sources familiar with the investigation say they have not yet been arrested.
On Friday afternoon, Tujunga was bustling with onlookers, curious neighbors and news vehicles. Neighbors said the gate entrance to the house was visibly twisted and distorted, plunging into a federal agent earlier that morning.
“I was getting ready for work when I heard the flash bang disappear,” said neighbor Jake Hartman. “Then loud speaker… “You need to come out, raise your hand.” All the neighbors came out, and the FBI, sheriff’s department and police took over the entire area. ”
Open gates seem obviously unusual for homes. Several neighbors said years later that the cult suspects lived on the property. The owner reportedly built higher walls and grown trees to further block the view of the house.
“When they moved, it was strange,” said neighbor Marge Wagner. “They were so secret, so they sent me flyers on what they wanted to do. They said they wanted to do all this for our community. We had scouts meet at home, we had prayer meetings in the evening, and we swam people in the pool. It was so strange.”
McGroarty Street resident Jake Hartmann says he received the flyer on Friday shortly after property owner Robert Israel Singh moved into the streets. Hartman said another neighbor circulated through the Flyers to warn him of the alleged crimes occurring next door.
(Katerina Portela/Los Angeles Times)
The property is large, enveloping street corners and lined with thick wooden walls. Wagner recalls that owners reclaim the initial offer of community space and provide mixed messages for the purposes of the property. This is a move that has disrupted some of the community.
“The owners instead said they would hold a men’s prayer night at a local meeting every Tuesday,” Wagner said. “For him, it’s a church and he only has one event a week for men. I thought this was not right. Nothing seemed right.”
Anthony Jackson, who lived next door for years, interacted with the property’s residents many times. Jackson describes the neighborhood as quiet and mostly elderly residents, and says he has never seen the red flag.
“[Shinn’s] My wife is very good. I’ve never seen anything normal, I’ve never heard of anything normal. Jackson said. In other words, I don’t believe it yet. ”
Others like Wagner said they found they suspected of property residents’ standoff behaviour.
“My daughter said, ‘Mom, have you heard of it… a documentary? Mom, you have to watch this,” Wagner said. “I wasn’t surprised. They expelled themselves from those around them.”
When the Times Reporter approached, the man who rejected his name left the property.
“This is all a misunderstanding,” he said, shook his head at the damaged gate. “The misconception that brought about destroyed property.”
Upon request for an interview, the man replied, “I don’t want to get caught up in all of this. I’m just living here. They’ll see that it was all a misunderstanding.”
It was not immediately clear whether Singh had a legal representative.
Doxalies follows former Shekina Church members who worked with the 7M Films Talent Agency, founded by Singh in 2021.
The series reveals that dancers, represented by talent agencies, started out as social media collaborators who frequently posted dance videos to Tiktok, but the group was involved in biblical studies with Singh. Those dancers invited friends to join what eventually became the core group of suspicious cults. Singh reportedly called himself a “man of God” and said that his teachings would provide salvation for his followers.
Times staff writers Brittny Mejia and Kimberly Aguirre contributed to this report.
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