Kansas
Kansas cult leaders convicted of forcing children to work 16-hour days without pay
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Six members of a Kansas-based cult have been convicted in a scheme to house children in overcrowded, rodent-infested facilities and force them to work up to 16 hours a day without pay while subjecting them to beatings and other abuse.
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 said Monday in announcing the verdict.
After a 26-day trial, jurors convicted all six defendants of conspiracy to commit forced labor. One of the six, Kaaba Majeed, 50, also was convicted of five counts of forced labor.
“Under the guise of false pretenses and coercion, these victims, some of whom were as young as eight years old, endured inhumane and abhorrent conditions,” FBI Special Agent Stephen Cyrus said in a written statement.
Prosecutors said the group, which was labeled a cult by a federal judge in 2018, beat children and imposed severe dietary restrictions. One of the victims was held upside down over train tracks because he would not admit to stealing food when he was hungry, prosecutors said. Another victim resorted to drinking water from a toilet because she was so thirsty.
Jenkins, who died in 2021, had been a member of the Nation of Islam until 1978, when he founded the separate United Nation of Islam. He persuaded his followers that he was shown the proper way to rule the Earth after being “taken through the galaxy by aliens on a spaceship,” according to the indictment. At one point, the group had hundreds of followers.
Prosecutors said that beginning in October 2000, the organization ran businesses such as gas stations, bakeries and restaurants in several states using unpaid labor from group members and their children.
Parents were encouraged to send their children to an unlicensed school in Kansas City, Kansas, called the University of Arts and Logistics of Civilization, which did not provide appropriate instruction in most subjects.
Instead, some of the child victims worked in businesses in Kansas City, while others were trafficked to businesses in other states, including New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Maryland, Georgia and North Carolina, the indictment alleges.
Prosecutors said the children lived in overcrowded facilities often overrun with mold, mice and rats. There were strict rules about what they could read, how they dressed and what they ate. Some were forced to undergo colonics. Punishments included being locked in a dark, frightening basement, prosecutors said.
They were told they would burn in “eternal hellfire” if they left.
In May 2018, U.S. Judge Daniel Crabtree called the group a cult and ordered it to pay $8 million to a woman who said she spent 10 years performing unpaid labor.
Sentencing hearings are set for February in the child labor case. The convictions carry sentences of up to 20 years in prison for Majeed and up to five years for the other defendants: Yunus Rassoul, 39; James Staton, 62; Randolph Rodney Hadley, 49; Daniel Aubrey Jenkins, 43; and Dana Peach, 60.
Emails seeking comment were sent Tuesday to attorneys for all six defendants.
Two other co-defendants previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit forced labor.
Kansas basketball’s regular season continued Saturday, Jan. 10, with a Big 12 Conference game on the road against West Virginia, and saw KU lose 86-75.
The No. 21 Jayhawks struggled mightily down the stretch in the second half. The Mountaineers fed off of their home crowd. Had KU won, it would have been the first time WVU lost at home this season.
Here is what happened during this game in Morgantown, West Virginia:
The Jayhawks are running out of time, as the Mountaineers appear to lead comfortably with about four minutes left in regulation. It’s a 22-5 run for WVU right now. Kansas has hit just two of its last 14 shots from the field.
West Virginia is now on a 13-0 run, and leading by five points with about nine and a half minutes remaining in regulation. Kansas hasn’t scored in more than five minutes. KU also has missed its last eight shots from the field.
Kansas hasn’t scored in more than three minutes, and West Virginia has used that drought to go on a 7-0 run. The Mountaineers could also tie the score coming out of this break, as a WVU player scored while getting fouled going into this timeout. It’s important to note that it’s not just Bryson Tiller who’s in foul trouble for Kansas with four fouls, as Flory Bidunga has three fouls.
Darryn Peterson is up to 20 points and six rebounds, as he’s continued to connect on every opportunity from the free-throw line. Foul trouble, though, has started to become a problem. Kansas has a starter in Bryson Tiller who’s up to four fouls, and West Virginia has two starters who are up to three fouls.
Brenen Lorient has thrived on the way to nine points, as West Virginia holds a slim lead with a little less than five minutes left in the first half. The Mountaineers have been able to gain an advantage from behind the arc. KU still hasn’t established long-range shooting as a threat, with WVU putting itself in a position for an upset.
3-point shooting hasn’t played a major role in the game so far, with the Jayhawks not even hitting one yet today. However, KU still holds a slim lead with about 11 and a half minutes remaining before halftime. Darryn Peterson has tried to be that standout talent for Kansas, but the shots haven’t fallen.
Kansas is trailing early, as the Jayhawks have struggled to see Darryn Peterson get going. Bryson Tiller has not lived up to his potential on the defensive end. Look for KU to do more to involve Flory Bidunga.
Pregame
Check out the starting lineups
Kansas coach Bill Self previews game
Kansas basketball vs West Virginia game time
- Date: Saturday, Jan. 10
- Time: 11 a.m. (CT)
- Location: Hope Coliseum in Morgantown, West Virginia
What channel is Kansas basketball vs West Virginia game on today?
Kansas basketball’s game against West Virginia will be broadcast on FOX during the 2025-26 college season. Streaming options include Fubo. It’s a chance for KU to earn another road win this season.
Kansas basketball vs West Virginia betting line
Odds courtesy of FanDuel as of Saturday, Jan. 10
- Spread: Kansas by 3.5
- O/U: 138.5
Kansas basketball 2025-26 schedule
Here’s a look at Kansas’ last three games:
- Dec. 22 (home): Davidson — Kansas won 90-61
- Jan. 3 (away): UCF — Kansas lost 81-75
- Jan. 6 (home): TCU — Kansas won 104-100
West Virginia basketball 2025-26 schedule
Here’s a look at West Virginia’s last three games:
- Dec. 22 (home): Mississippi Valley State — West Virginia won 86-51
- Jan. 2 (away): Iowa State — West Virginia lost 80-59
- Jan. 6 (home): Cincinnati — West Virginia won 62-60
Kansas basketball vs West Virginia score
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The KSHB 41 News team will be landing in Northeast Kansas City, Missouri, for our latest Let’s Talk event.
We’ll be hanging out from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at Peachtree Cafeteria, 2128 E. 12th Street, in Kansas City, Missouri, 64127.
Join KSHB 41’s Kevin Holmes, Wes Peery, Alyssa Jackson, Ryan Gamboa and others in person to let us know what we need to learn about the Historic Northeast, its residents, what’s going well and what opportunities are possible.
If you can’t make it in person, send us a question using the form below.
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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Kansas Department of Agriculture held a meeting on Thursday to discuss proposed rules regarding the Kansas Water Appropriation Act.
The Division of Water Resources is proposing new regulations and changes to current regulations under the law.
The division is looking at amending or revoking regulations related to flowmeters tracking water usage.
It is also proposing changes to groundwater usage rules on how far you can move a well from its original location to prevent harming the water rights of other landowners.
Another regulation would create voluntary Water Conservation Areas, where landowners work with the division to establish water conservation plans on their properties.
Some of the concerns raised at Thursday’s meeting dealt with property rights and the transfer of land to new owners. Some expressed concern about the sale of water rights to other landowners in the area.
There is no listed timeline for when the changes could be made.
For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.
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