26 International Journal of Cultic Studies ■ Vol. 9, 2018
consequence of their situation as trafficked
persons.”
379F
380 It is time that the same be
recommended for victims of cults in recognition
of the power of undue influence.
Victims of cults should have other legal
protections already afforded to trafficked
persons as well. For instance, international law
provides that trafficked victims are entitled to
participate in legal proceedings safely and being
fully informed about the legal process.
380F
381 In the
United States, some states have enacted
trafficking statutes to protect victims in similar
ways,
381F
382 and protecting the rights of trafficked
victims is a developing legislative concern.
382F
383
For example, in New York, if a person is
convicted of prostitution but has been coerced
into the commercial act as a result of being
trafficked, then he or she may file a post-
judgment motion in state court to vacate the
conviction
383F
384 where the charge was for
“loitering for the purpose of engaging in a
prostitution offense”
384F
385 or “prostitution.”
385F
386
Similarly, when cult adherents are charged with
crimes that they were duped into committing
because of the power of undue influence, they
too should be immune from punishment.
4. Sharing Resources With Programs That
Help Identify Child Victims
International law provides special measures for
trafficked children to be afforded their true
identity and efforts are made to obtain correct
information so that these children are correctly
identified.
386F
387 Some cults also strip their
followers of their names and identities. Often
380 Id. at 18. The Trafficking Protocol does not specifically
address prosecution but makes a similar recommendation for
countries to implement domestic legislation.
381 See id. at 15.
382 See supra text and accompanying notes 368−70 HYLAND &
SREEHARSHA, supra note 240, at 5.
383 See, e.g., Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking
Prevention Act 42 U.S.C.A. § 5701 (2016).
384 N.Y. Crim. Proc. L. § 440.10(1)(i) (West 2015). These motions
are otherwise known as “440 motions.”
385 N.Y. Penal L. § 240.37 (West 2015).
386 Id. § 230.00. Note—“loitering” for purpose of prostitution is a
separate crime from that of prostitution.
387 See U.N. Fact Sheet No. 36, supra note 249, at 20 (citing
UNICEF Guidelines). Often times, trafficked persons are given
false names and documentation.
they are given new names.
387F
388 They are groomed
differently and given different clothing than they
wore when they were their former selves.
388F
389
When appropriate, children defecting from cults,
or those gaining emancipation status, should be
provided similar assistance.
C. A Case in Point
A case from Atlanta, Georgia, is one example of
how trafficking laws were used to prosecute a
leader who ran a commercial enterprise that
could also be characterized as a “commercial
cult.”
389F
390 This ringleader, Jimme Lee Jones, often
referred to religious scripture knowing that
certain recruits would identify with religion.
390F
391
Jones also rigidly controlled the recruitment and
operations of a modeling agency, exploiting the
models and subjecting them to physical and
sexual abuse and forced prostitution.
391F
392 It could
be categorized as a “commercial cult.”
392F
393
Rachel Thomas was a college student in Atlanta
who was approached by Jones on campus
claiming to be a modeling agent.
393F
394 Two young
women also approached Thomas, and they
vouched for the man.
394F
395 They convinced
Thomas to sign a modeling agency contract and
fill out a W-4 tax form, which required that she
reveal her permanent address where her parents
lived her current address, which she shared with
roommates and her social security number.
395F
396
Jones did obtain modeling jobs for Thomas, but
she quickly saw him physically abusing another
model, and Thomas tried to back out.
396F
397 At that
point, Jones threatened her and her family,
388 See Arnold, supra note 320 (presenting on her experience in
Children of God, and that she was given a few names).
389 Id.
390 DEP’T OF JUSTICE, Georgia Man Sentenced to 15 Years on Sex
Trafficking and Mann Act Charges (Jan. 24, 2008),
http://www.justice.gov/archive/opa/pr/2008/January/08_crt
_058.html Rachel Thomas, Human Trafficking as a Commercial
Cult Mind-Control Phenomenon, VIMEO (July 5, 2014),
vimeo.com/102628104.
391 See Thomas, supra note 388.
392 See id.
393 See id.
394 See id.
395 See id.
396 See id.
397 See id.
consequence of their situation as trafficked
persons.”
379F
380 It is time that the same be
recommended for victims of cults in recognition
of the power of undue influence.
Victims of cults should have other legal
protections already afforded to trafficked
persons as well. For instance, international law
provides that trafficked victims are entitled to
participate in legal proceedings safely and being
fully informed about the legal process.
380F
381 In the
United States, some states have enacted
trafficking statutes to protect victims in similar
ways,
381F
382 and protecting the rights of trafficked
victims is a developing legislative concern.
382F
383
For example, in New York, if a person is
convicted of prostitution but has been coerced
into the commercial act as a result of being
trafficked, then he or she may file a post-
judgment motion in state court to vacate the
conviction
383F
384 where the charge was for
“loitering for the purpose of engaging in a
prostitution offense”
384F
385 or “prostitution.”
385F
386
Similarly, when cult adherents are charged with
crimes that they were duped into committing
because of the power of undue influence, they
too should be immune from punishment.
4. Sharing Resources With Programs That
Help Identify Child Victims
International law provides special measures for
trafficked children to be afforded their true
identity and efforts are made to obtain correct
information so that these children are correctly
identified.
386F
387 Some cults also strip their
followers of their names and identities. Often
380 Id. at 18. The Trafficking Protocol does not specifically
address prosecution but makes a similar recommendation for
countries to implement domestic legislation.
381 See id. at 15.
382 See supra text and accompanying notes 368−70 HYLAND &
SREEHARSHA, supra note 240, at 5.
383 See, e.g., Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking
Prevention Act 42 U.S.C.A. § 5701 (2016).
384 N.Y. Crim. Proc. L. § 440.10(1)(i) (West 2015). These motions
are otherwise known as “440 motions.”
385 N.Y. Penal L. § 240.37 (West 2015).
386 Id. § 230.00. Note—“loitering” for purpose of prostitution is a
separate crime from that of prostitution.
387 See U.N. Fact Sheet No. 36, supra note 249, at 20 (citing
UNICEF Guidelines). Often times, trafficked persons are given
false names and documentation.
they are given new names.
387F
388 They are groomed
differently and given different clothing than they
wore when they were their former selves.
388F
389
When appropriate, children defecting from cults,
or those gaining emancipation status, should be
provided similar assistance.
C. A Case in Point
A case from Atlanta, Georgia, is one example of
how trafficking laws were used to prosecute a
leader who ran a commercial enterprise that
could also be characterized as a “commercial
cult.”
389F
390 This ringleader, Jimme Lee Jones, often
referred to religious scripture knowing that
certain recruits would identify with religion.
390F
391
Jones also rigidly controlled the recruitment and
operations of a modeling agency, exploiting the
models and subjecting them to physical and
sexual abuse and forced prostitution.
391F
392 It could
be categorized as a “commercial cult.”
392F
393
Rachel Thomas was a college student in Atlanta
who was approached by Jones on campus
claiming to be a modeling agent.
393F
394 Two young
women also approached Thomas, and they
vouched for the man.
394F
395 They convinced
Thomas to sign a modeling agency contract and
fill out a W-4 tax form, which required that she
reveal her permanent address where her parents
lived her current address, which she shared with
roommates and her social security number.
395F
396
Jones did obtain modeling jobs for Thomas, but
she quickly saw him physically abusing another
model, and Thomas tried to back out.
396F
397 At that
point, Jones threatened her and her family,
388 See Arnold, supra note 320 (presenting on her experience in
Children of God, and that she was given a few names).
389 Id.
390 DEP’T OF JUSTICE, Georgia Man Sentenced to 15 Years on Sex
Trafficking and Mann Act Charges (Jan. 24, 2008),
http://www.justice.gov/archive/opa/pr/2008/January/08_crt
_058.html Rachel Thomas, Human Trafficking as a Commercial
Cult Mind-Control Phenomenon, VIMEO (July 5, 2014),
vimeo.com/102628104.
391 See Thomas, supra note 388.
392 See id.
393 See id.
394 See id.
395 See id.
396 See id.
397 See id.
