"Secrets in Shawano"

NewsChannel 7 is beginning its series of special reports Monday on an extreme religious group in Shawano and their history and impact on the community.

They're called The Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ and are led by a man known as Avraham Cohen. The man had been known as Samanta Roy and before that, Rama Behera. The group has had a presence in the Shawano area for more than 30 years.

In recent years, Cohen has raised more questions after buying millions of dollars worth of Shawano-area land and businesses, many of which have remained vacant or unused. NewsChannel 7 got a look inside a party at one of the hotels owned by Cohen - you will see the shocking activity.

In part one of Secrets in Shawano, NewsChannel 7's Mikel Lauber will introduce you to the group and their leader. Tune in this week for further reports on NewsChannel 7.

The group and their leader

Cults and extreme religious groups are grabbing headlines these days. After learning that another controversial group is operating right here in North Central Wisconsin, NewsChannel 7 set out to learn more about it, its members, and its elusive leader.

The controversy goes beyond a mysterious lifestyle. There's also concern about its financial impact on a community where it's invested millions in businesses and other properties.

This special series of investigative reports looks into a group many have wondered about - and speculated about - for years.

The existence of this group is no secret to those who live in the Shawano area. Local officials tell me members have been there for more than 30 years. But what has been, and still is a secret is just what their group is all about.

Over a period of several weeks we've been trying to learn more about their leader, a man now named Avraham Cohen, formerly known as Samanta Roy, and before that Rama Behera.

What we've found is he and his followers have always remained just out of sight.

Residents of Shawano and surrounding towns describe their community as old-fashioned and close-knit. It's a place where word travels fast, and there are few secrets.

But for more than 30 years, one thing has eluded their small-town curiosity: a community within their community. "The group has been here for a number of years", said Shawano Police Chief Ed Whealon. "I mean, as long as I've been with the department, since 1978, I believe the group first started in 1973 or 1974."

They've called themselves "The Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ", led by a man then named Rama Behera.

Officials in the town of Westcott, just north of Shawano, say some of the first land purchased by Behera was a few acres in the town of Wescott, which they say serves as the group's compound.

The compound is guarded by group members 24 hours a day. Any stop at the building, or often even vehicles just driving past, prompts the group to call to the Sheriff's Deparment and begin videotaping.

Officials in the Town of Wescott say no one knows for sure what's inside this compound, which has been covered by tarps and closely guarded by the group for years. Officials say it's exactly that kind of secrecy that makes many residents uneasy. "What's inside of it? What are they doing? What are they doing behind it?", asks Wescott Town Chairman Mike Schuler. "I don't have the slightest idea, and I've been here for 20 years. That's how tight it is."

And the mystery goes beyond the compound. No one seems to know how many members are involved with the group. And their leader has always remained in the shadows over the years. He's met with just a handful of local officials and business owners, and has been photographed just a couple of times.

He's also now gone by three names. First known as Rama Behera, court records show he changed his name to Samanta Roy in 1990, and last summer, changed it once again to Avraham Cohen.

Rick Ross is an internationally renowned expert in cults and religious groups whose institute for tracking such groups is based in New Jersey. He says the name change could be to escape criticism. "I would say this was because one name would be come well known to the general public and he sought to assume a new identity, and therefore avoid the criticism or baggage that went with former names", said Ross.

Ross has followed Cohen's group since the mid 90's and says he's seen the impact it's had on followers. "The people that have followed Rama Behera have followed, many of them for decades, since the 70's", said Ross. "I've met people that literally gave up their life for this man. They gave a great deal of labor, a great deal of money, and it affected their personal life, every area of their life."

Ross says by controlling the environment his followers live and work in, Cohen is able to control their way of thinking.

Local officials say the group does not have a violent history. But in 2002, Gaeland Priebe, a former member of the group, was accused of repeated sexual assault of a child, crimes that took place after he left the group. A major part of his defense involved the influence he says Behera's group had over him.

Testimony from former members gave accounts of shocking abuse. In a letter read in open court, one former member who left the group at age 10 stated, "Beatings by Rama were Rampant. Almost all children were targeted. Rama whipped me with an electric cord with frayed edges on both ends. He applied a cattle prod to the inside of my mouth, on my teeth, in my ears, on my neck, to my sides, and to the inside of my thighs."

A letter from another former member was also read in court, which said "Members became brainwashed into thinking that Rama represented God himself and had powers beyond that of the rank and file religious leader. Once trusted and feared as our spiritual leader, Rama regularly engaged in various physical and emotional abusive behaviors; all of which were used to obtain and maintain full control over his members' spiritual and personal lives."

Priebe was convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison for the sexual assaults. No charges have ever come against Behera's group. "There have always been suspicions or allegations", said Chief Whealon. "But nothing that law enforcement has ever been able to substantiate, as far as the Shawano Police Department has been involved."

Yet residents and local officials say it's not what's known about the group, but what remains unknown, that makes them worry. "You don't have problems with them in general, the people that are there itself", said Schuler. "But we've already gone through a Waco, Texas. We just got through getting those children out of another home. Is this, are we having trouble in this home? Is this the next one? And what's behind it, I can't tell you. And it does get people nervous? Yes. It definitely gets people nervous."

The Community Impact

For the better part of 20 years, community members say Rama Behera and his followers, who have called themselves the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, had remained mostly under-the-radar.

But local officials say in recent years, the group has seemed to shift their focus, by buying millions of dollars worth of buildings and businesses around the city of Shawano. "They've changed their view on what they're doing", said Wescott Town Chairman Mike Schuler. "They say they're purchasing these buildings so they can make some money to build an international boarding school sometime."

Alan Eisenberg, an attorney for Avraham Cohen and Samanta Roy's nonprofit institute, says a school is still the goal. "He wants to bring thousands if not millions of Americans into the 21st century of science and technology", said Eisenberg. "Into the computer age, the computer era, the technology era."

Land records show the Samanta Roy Institute of Science and Technology (S.I.S.T.) and it's subsidiaries own dozens of businesses and properties in Shawano, which local officials say are operated and staffed by Cohen's followers.

We went into several businesses owned by S.I.S.T. and related companies and spoke to employees. Most either denied a connection to Cohen, or refused to comment at all. But we recorded one employee in the group's gift and fudge shop speaking about the relationship between Cohen's religion and businesses. "They might have their own religion. That is what they believe. That doesn't go past where they keep it, their meeting room or whatever", she said. "It doesn't go past that into the businesses. It's strictly business where businesses are, and religion where religion is."

She went on to state that she believes their religious group, and others making headlines in the United States are persecuted. "There's supposedly a freedom of religion in the United States", she stated. "Well, I happen to think there's something wrong with that from what I hear in Texas, but anyway... I won't go there."

But besides what the businesses are for, questions are also raised by local officials and business owners about the way S.I.S.T. does business. Land records show that Samanta Roy's companies began buying businesses in the city of Shawano around the year 2000. Many of those businesses are downtown properties that have remained vacant ever since.

Jeff Kirchner is a downtown business owner who is also on a committee attempting to improve Shawano's downtown. He says filling those vacant properties would certainly improve their downtown. "I think we'd like to get those buildings filled or at least spruced up or fixed up or interest in them", he says. "It would only enhance the ability to rent them."

Local business owners say attempts to rent or buy vacant S.I.S.T. properties have, so far, not been accepted. And officials say the only S.I.S.T.-owned businesses operating are those that were open when they were purchased.

But Cohen's attorney says there are plans for the vacant properties. "There are plans. The city has known about the plans for a long time", said Eisenberg. "A leading Wisconsin realtor will be marketing the availability of the properties next week."

Officials tell me they've heard of plans before, but as of today, nothing has changed. "We were promised four years ago that a number of them would be open", said Chairman Mike Schuler. "But none of them are."

Those businesses that are open have also seen their share of mysteries. When we stopped by the three S.I.S.T.-owned gas stations in Shawano, all three had run out of gas - a common occurrence, according to local residents.

And the group has a history of problems paying taxes on time. According to documents obtained from the Shawano County Treasurer, the businesses and Cohen, under the name Samanta Roy, currently owe thousands of dollars in overdue taxes. And in the past, their gas stations and motels have had licensees revoked until payments were caught up.

Kal Gronvall, a former member of S.I.S.T.'s board of directors has fired back at criticism by circulating pamphlets in the Shawano area calling Mayor Lorna Marquardt and law enforcement racist. One pamphlet states, "Shawano has become Nazi Germany under Lorna Marquardt, the Hitler."

Mayor Marquardt has filed suit for defamation. Her case is still pending.

Despite complaints from residents and city leaders, Cohen's lawyer believes people are glad to have these businesses operating in Shawano. "Why would they come to these businesses by the thousands? In droves?", Eisenberg asks. "He's bringing health, wealth, and prosperity to Shawano. And people love him for it."

But Shawano Police Chief Ed Whealon says people are wary about the increasingly twisted and complicated relationship between Cohen, his followers, and businesses. "Businesses are conducted that would not make ordinary business sense", he said. "And it's a complicated, intertwined issue. It's hard for people who aren't from the area to get a grasp and understand what it's all about."

The hotel controversy

In this series, we're taking a closer look at the controversy surrounding a group led by Avraham Cohen, formerly known by two other names: Rama Behera, and Samanta Roy.

For more than 30 years, the secrecy surrounding this group has led to much speculation. Some are also concerned about the financial impact on the community; Cohen has invested millions in local businesses, left some buildings vacant, and has fallen behind in taxes and other payments.

Even more recently, one of the hotels he owns is drawing complaints and protests because it's the site of private adult parties hosted by a swingers group called 'Share Your Secrets'.

NewsChannel 7 was asked to look into these parties at the Shawano Best Western Motel. We captured what was happening at one of their 'private parties' on our hidden cameras.

Shawano Police Chief Ed Whealon says, despite the controversy over what many view as immoral, such parties don't necessarily violate any laws. "There is a statute on the books called adultery", Whealon said. "But to enforce that statute, you have to have a victim or a party to step forward and file a complaint with law enforcement."

However, in each of the last few meetings citations have been issued, including serving alcohol past hours and refusal to allow officers on the premises.

There's no question these parties are causing a stir in the community. And Mike Schuler, Town Chairman in nearby Wescott, says their connection to Avraham Cohen is concerning. "It's very difficult to believe that a person that has a religion, that preaches on weekends and allows his hotel to be used for what it's used for once a month", said Schuler. "I don't understand."

But Alan Eisenberg, an attorney for Avraham Cohen, says Cohen is not involved. "It's of utterly no significance", said Eisenberg. "And one thing's for sure: Avraham Cohen has absolutely nothing to do with it. He doesn't even know about it. It has not been discussed with him. I have not spoken to him about it."

Allegations from inside

Through our weeks of investigating, we've learned much about how the community of Shawano perceives Avraham Cohen and his followers, and heard a lot of rumors and speculation about what his group was all about.

We found land records, tax documents, and court transcripts. We spoke to residents, community leaders, and law enforcement about their encounters with the group.

Still, no-one knew exactly what happens inside the walls of their closely guarded community. But a glimpse may lie in accounts on file at the Shawano County Sheriff's Department, as told by people who grew up as the so-called "true disciples".

No charges have ever been brought against Cohen's group, although former members told Shawano deputies about alleged abuse.

We obtained public records from the Shawano County Sheriff's Department. The reports include interviews with several former members conducted in February of 2001. Many of the former members were juveniles at the time.

Please see video and court documents, linked to below, for those accounts.

While investigating this story, we made numerous attempts to ask Cohen's followers to clarify what goes on inside the group, but none would discuss it.

We left business cards with employees at businesses owned by Avraham Cohen, and asked for calls back, but never received a response.

We did receive one call from someone who said he was a current group member, but he refused to give any comments on the record. Cohen's attorney, Alan Eisenberg, told us he has never discussed religion with Cohen. He says he doesn't know of any 'group', or of any 'followers' of Cohen, and says he has no comment on any allegations.

Community Impact