Settlement spares David Jang’s Olivet Assembly from racketeering lawsuit
A settlement has spared the embattled World Olivet Assembly and Olivet University from a lawsuit over claims it engaged in racketeering with a network of small firms to defraud an e-commerce lender out of millions of dollars to fund the sect's operations.
It was the latest development in more than a decade of legal challenges to hit evangelical cleric David Jang‘s Olivet, whose Olivet University is under federal investigation over money laundering, visa fraud and labor trafficking, according to current and former officials with knowledge of the case. In 2020, Olivet University pleaded guilty to falsifying business records in connection with a money-laundering scheme.
The lawsuit was filed by Texas-based 8fig on August 10 against the World Olivet Assembly and 17 institutions and individuals it alleges worked in tandem to get money to fund the sect. It provided some of the most detailed allegations made to date over the internal workings of the sect, the university and their related businesses and media companies.
The terms of the settlement were not known.
“This network of entities and individuals conspired to and did defraud 8fig out of millions of dollars in furtherance of their enterprise via unlawful means,” says the lawsuit filed in Austin, Texas. The lawsuit alleged that over $6.5 million worth of funds were diverted to entities associated with the World Olivet Assembly.
Frank Lan's mugshot from August 2, 2019, is shown. Orange Country Sheriff's Office
In 2019, a North Carolina pastor was arrested, accused of possessing thousands of counterfeit Cartier bracelets. Pastor JianGang “Frank” Lan was a former Olivet University student, and his church was set up by a member of Olivet. Lan fled to his home country of China after his arrest and failed to make a 2022 court appearance.
Current and former law enforcement officials told Newsweek in June 2022 that Lan, who former Olivet members said is now working on Jang-related e-commerce in China, was suspected of being part of a “trade-based money laundering” scheme.
In its suit, 8fig alleged that the Community employs a variety of businesses to fund its ventures, spread its worldview and control the narrative that surrounds it. The Community refers to these businesses as its three “arks”: a media ark, a university ark and an e-commerce ark, the suit alleges.
“The Community uses various media platforms such as the IB Times [sic], Christian Media Corporation International, Christian Today, Christian Post, and Tech Times to generate revenue from ads as well as protect the Community's image via the press,” it said. The suit said that Newsweek had been controlled by the Community, but no longer was. None of the media companies listed above responded to Newsweek's requests for comment.
“These “arks” are a mere façade utilized by the Community to enrich its members, eliminate criticism, and provide ever expanding reach into the American populace,” the suit reads. “Ultimately, this scheme was intended to and did enrich Olivet World Assembly and its subsidiary entities to the direct detriment of 8fig.”
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EYES ON TRAFFICKING
This “Eyes on Trafficking” story is reprinted from its original online location.
ABOUT PBJ LEARNING
PBJ Learning is a leading provider of online human trafficking training, focusing on awareness and prevention education. Their interactive Human Trafficking Essentials online course is used worldwide to educate professionals and individuals how to recognize human trafficking and how to respond to potential victims. Learn on any web browser (even your mobile phone) at any time.
More stories like this can be found in your PBJ Learning Knowledge Vault.