This is the first post in a series on the latest lawsuit against J. Micheal Shoemaker, AKA Swami Chetanananda.
By Ruth Graham
MEDFORD, OREGON – A federal lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Medford Division, has brought new allegations against J. Michael Shoemaker, also known as Swami Chetananda, and several associated individuals and entities.
Two women, identified as D.T. and G.M., have accused Shoemaker of various abuses, including sexual battery, trafficking, and emotional distress.
Shoemaker, the founder, director, and teacher of the Movement Center, is alleged to have groomed, sexually exploited, and trafficked both plaintiffs. The accusations detail incidents that transpired while the women were studying under Shoemaker’s guidance at the Movement Center in Portland, Oregon or L’Hermitage in Gold Beach, Oregon.
The complaint alleges Shoemaker’s “inner circle,” was complicit in the alleged exploitation and abuse.
Past lawsuits with similar allegations against Shoemaker have been settled, with significant payments to plaintiffs accompanied by non-disclosure agreements.
Among the alleged practices, Shoemaker is accused of manipulating female devotees with promises of spiritual healing and enlightenment, only to exploit them sexually and mentally.
D.T.’s allegations span from 2005 to 2011 at the Movement Center’s Portland location, asserting that she experienced grooming, assault, and exploitation. One specific incident from 2007 alleges Shoemaker choked D.T. without her consent, choked her, rendering her unconscious, and then committed sexual acts on her.
G.M.’s accusations are more recent, occurring between 2019 and 2021. She alleges Shoemaker sexually assaulted her multiple times during sessions branded “treatments” at the Movement Center and/or Hermitage.
Several other defendants, including Sharon Ward, Jen Wilhelm, Moni O’Neal, Dr. Andrew Bonner, and Dr. Rebecca Reese, are named in the lawsuit.
Both Dr. Bonner and Dr. Reese, who are physicians, and Ward, an attorney, are accused of using their professional titles to manipulate victims and provide a veneer of legitimacy to Shoemaker’s actions.
The lawsuit alleges that these professionals failed in their duties as mandated reporters, neglecting to report the alleged abuses to the appropriate authorities.
Legal Case Against Oregon-Based Movement Center and Affiliates Intensifies
The two main plaintiffs in the case, identified as D.T. and G.M., have detailed their experiences within the organization in the lawsuit.
D.T., now resides in Australia, and G.M., currently in Indiana, were both Oregon residents during the alleged incidents.
The case is currently represented by legal firms McAllister Olivarius and Dumas & Vaughn, LLC. The lead attorney is Carol Merchasin.
Shoemaker established the Nityananda Institute in 1971 in Bloomington, Indiana. In 1973, allegations suggest Shoemaker engaged in a pattern of grooming and abuse, including the rape of a student.
In 1978, allegations of cult-like behavior began to surface.
By 1982, Shoemaker relocated to Cambridge, Massachusetts, then he settled in Portland, Oregon, in 1993. The Portland location encompassed a 3-acre, 62,000 square-foot estate that housed up to 100 members.
In 2020, all members moved out of the Portland location, and the center relocated to Gold Beach, Oregon.
The Movement Center currently operates out of a large estate in Gold Beach, Oregon. Shoemaker leads private classes and retreats at this location, and the center previously conducted classes and retreats in California.
Shoemaker groomed and sexually assaulted other female members between 2005 and 2023. His pattern of abuse is described as coercing himself onto women without their consent, while using methods such as choking or smothering them.
More to come…
Frank Parlato 
Janine Morrison 
J.J. O'Hara 
Richard Luthmann 
Marie White 
Paul Serran
Please leave a comment: Your opinion is important to us!
Lama Wandu is dead and there have been many FB posts about his passing and his cremation. Plenty of Shoemaker “die hards” have commented or “liked” the Tibetan Chod and Wangdu posts. These Shoemaker diehards are like lobsters in a pot of hot water, Tolerating incrementally worsening behavior as the legal water gets hotter and hotter for them. Are they fools, or good-hearted people who have been gaslighted and brainwashed by a master manipulator? What sort of enmeshment are they trapped in in where they are controled by Shoemaker who is in the psyche. It must be destabilizing to turn away from Shoemaker. They just can not do it. They do believe that Shoemaker is the reincarnation of the “gooddess” with supernatural powers. So anything he does has a cosmic explanation and they stay loyal to him. So, who has shown up on Wangdu’s FB page who remains loyal to Shoemaker? Karen Sutherland, Drew Carlson, Connie Dyer, Jamie Lindsay Currin, Cheryl Berling Rosa, Ellen Sokolow, Guy Boster, Kelly Ponzi, Christopher O’Brian, Patty Slote, Linda Pope, Vanessa van Nienuvenhuysen, Blythe Grandon, Monica ONeal (Named defendant in the current civil suit)….but where is the Swami? There are no comments or appearences from Shoemaker on Wangdu’s FB pages. Weren’t these two BBF? Or did Shoemaker’s ego and greed get in the way of this friendship made in heaven? Where are Dr. Alexis Sanderson’s comments? Sharon Ward? Howard Boster? What is going on? Has there been a cosmic earthquake that split these two up? Why won’t Shoemaker come out of hidding and be there for his buddy?
https://www.facebook.com/tibetan.chod
When the first Frank reports on Shoemaker came out, Shoemaker had plenty of defenders. There were also those who blamed his victims and said they had consented. Where are they now? Have they been silenced by the civil suit or by the overwhelming narratives of abuse that are now on various media and social media sites as well in a complaint filed against Shoemaker and other named defendants? Carol Merchasin has said, “If a person rapes someone in a dark alley by force because ’God told him to do it”, it doesn’t matter. We don’t need to give any credence to whether he believed it or not. It is about the conduct, and a civil society can always govern conduct.”
Has Shoemaker abused his position as a “spiritual teacher”, a businessperson and self-proclaimed reincarnation of the “goddess” to rape women and defraud his “students”? Or have his “students” been exercising their free will to be brutalized and exploited by him?
Here is a Timeline of Abuse, created from the Frank Reports, the narratives of those who have been abused and the information taken from the civil suit complaints.
1976 : An ex-member, Pinky, described being raped in a Rudi/Shoemaker Center in Indiana, Published on line and republished in the Frank Report.
1997: Ex-member starts a lawsuit in Oregon that remained active for three years. The ex-member sued for Misrepresentation, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Breach of Contract, and Racketeering; settled out of court and the record was sealed. Both Shoemaker and Sharon Ward were defendants in this case. Some case details are available on the Oregon Judicial database.
Early 2000’s – 2019: “Jim” describes sexual encounters with two of Shoemaker’s “students” who describe forced sex with strangers, drug use and coercion. Published in Frank Report and similar details are published in the civil suit narratives and in other narratives described below.
2001: Richard Read publishes his series in the Oregonian, he documented fraud, drug use, financial abuse, sexual abuse of at least 11 “students”. Shoemaker was the focus of these reports and Sharon Ward and her dogs are mentioned in the articles.
2001: Leaving Nitanyanda Letter with testimonials of sexual, labor, financial and emotional abuse by at least 11 ex-members. Shoemaker was the named abuser in this letter, it included reference to abuse of women in the cult and to abuse of “their daughters”. Published online. International Cultic Studies Association conducts a survey of ex-members that documents exploitation, coercive control and sexual abuse by Shoemaker.
2004 – 2011: Ex-member narrative part of publicly available amended civil suit complaint against Shoemaker. The narrative begins with meeting Shoemaker in Australia at R. Kruckman’s “ashram”. Recruitment and grooming begins there and ongoing brutalization in Oregon and Nepal from 2005 to 2011 is described. The descriptions include choking to unconscious in 2007, coercion being used to try to force sex with others including strangers and to have photos taken in sexually compromising situations. This information dove tails with an interview published by Frank with “Jim” as described above. Narrative describes sexual trafficking from Australia to Nepal and to the US to pleasure Shoemaker. Ex-member was seen in the company of Shoemaker by Theresa and Salman Khan in Nepal and by other members in Oregon. The narrative names Andrew Bonner and Rebecca Ressa as co-defendants who were involved in abuse and drug use at the Portland Center. Named defendant, Moni Oneal participated in the drug use and abuse as reported in the civil suit amended complaint. In the Frank Report Moni Oneal claimed, “monionealomah
I have been Swamiji’s student for 33 years. And have only ever experienced for myself and witnessed him for countless others giving unconditional support, care, generosity, and kindness. Further, he has over 50 years, extended his teaching generously, unlike other groups and teachers, without ever charging for anything above and beyond the minimal operating expenses. He is a man of complete integrity, openness, kindness, and generosity. I stand by Swamiji.”
https://frankreport.com/2022/06/30/swami-chetanananda-swami-loves-you-come-back/
2002-2013 (Approximately) an ex-member of the Center and family member of Andrew Bonner, was recruited to the Center to provide “seva” (free labor). This ex-member was forced to work 7days a week for over 50 hours to pay for room and board. Lama Wangdu, an invited “spiritual” leader who was a resident at the Center sexually assaulted this ex-member. Jim Brisette and Sharon Ward were involved in all this abuse and harm. Published online in the Frank Report.
2009: Reported death at the Movement Center of Ayaz Quadir. Documented in a Portland Oregon police report, the cause of death was an alleged use of drugs. The body was found by Ayaz’s uncle, Andrew Bonner, who is now a named defendant in the current civil suit. In the civil suit, it is alleged that Bonner was aware of the use of cocaine at the Movement Center in 2008 and this information was not passed on to the family of Ayaz when he was at the Center and suffering from a substance abuse disorder.
2012-2015: Ex-member goes to the Movement Center to get sober and is recruited to provide “labor’ for room and board, labor trafficked. No warning is provided to the ex-member about drug use at the Center. Ex-member is given drugs and told to get drugs for Shoemaker’s “rituals”. Ex-member’s partner is “groomed” to become Shoemaker’s sexual partner and to change course of study to suit Shoemaker’s needs. This ex-member is warned to stay away from Shoemaker because he is dangerous. This warning comes from Andrew Bonner. Both ex-members leave the Center. One of the ex-members seeks medical assistance and is hospitalized in a behavioral health unit due to trauma. Published online in the Frank Report.
2012-2018; An ex-member is recruited to the Center, brutalized for 6.5 years. According to the narrative published on a private website in 2018, heavy drug use, sexual and physical torture were involved in the brutalization. The ex-member jumped off a bridge in Portland causing serious bodily injury. This narrative as later taken down and was republished by the Frank Report.
2017-2018: Mary Elizabeth Bazzani’s body is found in a river channel after she was reported missing from the Center. She had been a “student” of Shoemaker for over 30 years. Husband, daughters, sister and brother-in-law all involved with Shoemaker. None appear in the Portland police report for interviews or comments. Instead, Sharon Ward seemed to have “taken over” the police investigation using her cadaver smelling dog. Dead member was the sister of Theresa Khan and the sister-in-law of Salman Khan, both long time members of the Movement Center and present at the time of many of the alleged abuses at the Movement Center, in Nepal and at Gold Beach as described in the civil suit.
2020: Police report and Adult Protective Service report describes sexual abuse and coercion by Shoemaker of a fraudulently recruited ex-member. An ex-member who left the center in 2019 and was interviewed by police as part of this investigation. This ex-member had knowledge of sexual activity at the Movement Center, but reported the three women who participated in the choking and sodomy had “consented.” This ex-member provided labor for room and board and when refused sexually activity with Sharon Ward, was forced to leave the Movement Center.
2019-2022: A plaintiff in the civil suit is fraudulently recruited to the Movement Center and then is invited to move to Gold Beach. Ex-member is indoctrinated and “groomed” and then is brutalized by Shoemaker and gaslighted by the active members to “normalize” the abuse. Ex-member is told such brutalization will bring enlightenment. Jen Wilhelm is named as a participant in the “grooming” and abuse. Ex-member flees from the Center in Gold Beach and files a civil suit in 2023, narrative includes details of abuse including choking to unconscious, requests for compromising photos, fraud, and unwanted sexual abuse.
All who have had experiences with the Swami are welcome to call Frank and tell their story. Frank can be reached at 305-783-7083 or by email at frankparlato@gmail.com.
Legal assistance, Carol Merchasin: https://mcolaw.com/team/carol-merchasin/
Carol Merchasin has some wise words regarding abuse and brutality in a cult and how long it can take to recognize what was done to you. https://macleans.ca/longforms/john-de-ruiter/
Adi Da (franklin jones), a spiritual guru– one time had sex with a student’s wife, and his explanation was that it was to teach that man about non-attachment. What should Adi da’s punishment have been for this act of betrayal disguised as a teaching?
This whole thing reeks of “unimaginable possibilities” gone awry. What a guy, huh?
Don’t think this is what Michael meant by “unimaginable possibilities”. What a racket.
Sounds like those “Unimaginable Infinite Possibilities” Michael preaches are coming true.
Case 1:23-cv-00891-MC Document 23 Filed 10/16/23 Page 14 of 93
41. In or around 1999, when she was 23 years old, D.T. was diagnosed with
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a disease which required extensive treatments with severe side effects. After nearly a year of painful chemotherapy and radiotherapy, D.T. was in remission, but she still felt lost and decided to seek guidance. She began researching meditation programs, which led her to an ashram in Melbourne, Australia, led by Russell Kruckman, aka “Swami Shankarananda.”
42. D.T. visited the ashram for a meditation retreat in or around the summer of 2000.
In January 2001, she moved into the ashram and began to work full-time as Kruckman’s personal assistant.
43. In or around November 2004, a group of gurus from the United States travelled to
Melbourne to visit the ashram. Among them was Defendant Shoemaker.
44. Throughout Shoemaker’s visit, D.T. was required to prepare his meals and make
his bed every day.
45. D.T. worked approximately 15-16 hours per day. She performed secretarial tasks,
taught yoga classes, as well as served as a researcher and editor of one of Kruckman’s books.
46. During this time, D.T. developed Graves’ Disease, an autoimmune disorder
affecting the thyroid and eyes, and suffered from corneal lesions. D.T. became extremely ill and nearly lost her eyesight.
47. Shoemaker noticed D.T.’s vulnerability and gave her significantly more attention
than other students. When he learned of her illness, Shoemaker researched a naturopath for D.T. to see in Sydney.
48. Shoemaker conducted what he termed “osteopathic treatments” on D.T.
49. Shoemaker’s attention left an impact on D.T., and after he left the ashram, they
remained in touch. Shoemaker regularly inquired about her health, and he researched and found a local natural medicine practitioner for D.T. to see in Sydney. Shoemaker told D.T. that she would be unable to find decent treatment in Australia and recommended that she travel to Defendant Movement Center for the 2005 winter retreat. He offered to purchase the plane ticket for her, but D.T. declined. Shoemaker promised to cover D.T.’s room and board.
50. D.T. visited the Center for nearly three months, from in or around November
2005 to January 2006.
51. While D.T. lived at the Center, she received treatment regularly – between two to
four appointments a week – from Defendant Bonner and Defendant Reese, and “osteopathic treatments” from Shoemaker. During this period, D.T. was heavily medicated and could barely see at times due to symptoms from her Graves’ Disease and thyroid eye disease.
Was Shoemaker in Australia with Kruckman? According to the Movement Center Newsletter article written by Jim Brissette, yes he was
http://nityanandainstitute.org/archives_3gurus.php
ARTICLES | 3 GURUS AUSTRALIA
WITH THE 3 GURUS IN AUSTRALIA
I was fortunate to be able to accompany Swami Chetanananda on his recent trip to Australia for a series of programs called “The 3 Gurus” with Swami Shankarananda and Master Charles Cannon. Swami Chetanananda was invited by Swami Shankarananda to join this program to promote spiritual awakening and upliftment.
Both Swami Shankarananda and Master Charles are practitioners in the lineage of Bhagavan Nityananda. Swami Chetanananda and Swami Shankarananda have been friends for a long time, but this was the first time they’ve done programs together.
All three teachers were born in the U.S. Swami Shankarananda has lived in Australia since the mid-1990’s and is the head of the Shiva Ashram. Master Charles is the head of the Synchronicity Foundation and has a center in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
The programs were held in the area of the Shiva Ashram in Mount Eliza, about an hour south of Melbourne. Mount Eliza is on the Mornington Peninsula, and its a rural area of rolling hills. (You can find visitor information about the Mornington Peninsula and some pictures at the official site for Melbourne. The ashram has space for about twenty residents, and many other members live in houses close by. The buildings are surrounded by beautiful gardens and include a manmade pond. Swamiji and I stayed in a small house on property adjacent to the ashram.
The programs began with an introductory evening at the Town Hall in Glen Eira, close to the ashram. The program included a short talk by each teacher, chanting and meditation, followed by darshan. About 400 people attended, getting things off to a great start. Two days later a week long residential retreat began at the Shiva Ashram. The retreat programs were held in a tent on the ashram grounds. About fifty people attended the retreat during the day, and about 150 each evening.
The daily schedule for the retreat included morning meditation, seva, arati, a meditation program at noon, hatha yoga, chanting workshops (there were a number of very talented musicians), and an evening program with the teachers. The evening programs varied each night some included talks and darshan by the teachers, some were question and answer sessions, and some included meditation led by one of the teachers. On the following day at noon, one of the guru’s devotees would recap that teacher’s talk and answer questions about it. During the week, each group of devotees had opportunities to make presentations about their practice.
The final part of the program was a weekend intensive back at the Glen Eira Town Hall held from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm each day. Each teacher gave talks for about two hours, with Swamiji starting off as the first speaker on Saturday morning. The program concluded with questions and answers, meditation, and darshan.
There wasn’t any time for sightseeing, but it wasn’t all work. The Shiva Ashram has a really good rock band, and Swami Shankarananda is an excellent blues harp player. The band played at a cafe in the town of Mount Eliza and in the cafeteria at the retreat.
You’ll find a nice article about the whole event at the The 3 Gurus website. There are lots of photos (including a number of mine) on the photo gallery for the event.
The three gurus worked well together and offered an interesting combination of talents and styles. Although they all agreed on the essentials, the differences in their perspectives were revealed in the evening programs. They enjoyed each other’s company and even sang a song together at lunch one day.
During the visit, the three gurus were interviewed by a local radio station and by The Age, a daily newspaper in Melbourne. We’re working to transfer the video of that interview to a format compatible with US electronics so that we can make it available to Institute students. (We’re doing the same with footage of one of the question and answer sessions.)
Everyone in Mount Eliza worked hard to make us feel welcome, and they very were gracious and respectful of Swamiji. As you might expect, Swamiji was very warmly received.
The program was such a success that there’s a possibility that the three gurus will get together for another program next year, and they’re thinking about Los Angeles. Stay tuned for details.
HOME | CONTACT | SITE MAP | LINKS | ARCHIVES | © 2005-2008 THE MOVEMENT CENTER, INC.
http://nityanandainstitute.org/archives_3gurus.php
Shoemaker was an associate and guest of Kruckman at Shiva Ashram, Mt Eliza, as described in a 2004 promotional piece: https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/breaking-the-guru-hoodoo-20041120-gdz0v0.html
Two women looking for pay days.
Two women (out of dozens), BRAVE enough to come forward. Two women that he has coerced and harmed. They deserve full restitution. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.
That’s Shoemaker or one of his parasites making that comment
Probably Monica O’Neil the two-faced lying snake, is she still alive?
Monica ONeil is living in Gold Beach. She is now a named defendant in the amended complaint. She is alive, addled and being sued for what she has done to brutalize others.
Case 1:23-cv-00891-MC Document 23 Filed 10/16/23 Page 14 of 93
41. In or around 1999, when she was 23 years old, D.T. was diagnosed with
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a disease which required extensive treatments with severe side effects. After nearly a year of painful chemotherapy and radiotherapy, D.T. was in remission, but she still felt lost and decided to seek guidance. She began researching meditation programs, which led her to an ashram in Melbourne, Australia, led by Russell Kruckman, aka “Swami Shankarananda.”
42. D.T. visited the ashram for a meditation retreat in or around the summer of 2000.
In January 2001, she moved into the ashram and began to work full-time as Kruckman’s personal assistant.
43. In or around November 2004, a group of gurus from the United States travelled to
Melbourne to visit the ashram. Among them was Defendant Shoemaker.
44. Throughout Shoemaker’s visit, D.T. was required to prepare his meals and make
his bed every day.
45. D.T. worked approximately 15-16 hours per day. She performed secretarial tasks,
taught yoga classes, as well as served as a researcher and editor of one of Kruckman’s books.
46. During this time, D.T. developed Graves’ Disease, an autoimmune disorder
affecting the thyroid and eyes, and suffered from corneal lesions. D.T. became extremely ill and nearly lost her eyesight.
47. Shoemaker noticed D.T.’s vulnerability and gave her significantly more attention
than other students. When he learned of her illness, Shoemaker researched a naturopath for D.T. to see in Sydney.
48. Shoemaker conducted what he termed “osteopathic treatments” on D.T.
49. Shoemaker’s attention left an impact on D.T., and after he left the ashram, they
remained in touch. Shoemaker regularly inquired about her health, and he researched and found a local natural medicine practitioner for D.T. to see in Sydney. Shoemaker told D.T. that she would be unable to find decent treatment in Australia and recommended that she travel to Defendant Movement Center for the 2005 winter retreat. He offered to purchase the plane ticket for her, but D.T. declined. Shoemaker promised to cover D.T.’s room and board.
50. D.T. visited the Center for nearly three months, from in or around November
2005 to January 2006.
51. While D.T. lived at the Center, she received treatment regularly – between two to
four appointments a week – from Defendant Bonner and Defendant Reese, and “osteopathic treatments” from Shoemaker. During this period, D.T. was heavily medicated and could barely see at times due to symptoms from her Graves’ Disease and thyroid eye disease.
Was Shoemaker in Australia with Kruckman? According to the Movement Center Newsletter article written by Jim Brissette, yes he was
http://nityanandainstitute.org/archives_3gurus.php
ARTICLES | 3 GURUS AUSTRALIA
WITH THE 3 GURUS IN AUSTRALIA
I was fortunate to be able to accompany Swami Chetanananda on his recent trip to Australia for a series of programs called “The 3 Gurus” with Swami Shankarananda and Master Charles Cannon. Swami Chetanananda was invited by Swami Shankarananda to join this program to promote spiritual awakening and upliftment.
Both Swami Shankarananda and Master Charles are practitioners in the lineage of Bhagavan Nityananda. Swami Chetanananda and Swami Shankarananda have been friends for a long time, but this was the first time they’ve done programs together.
All three teachers were born in the U.S. Swami Shankarananda has lived in Australia since the mid-1990’s and is the head of the Shiva Ashram. Master Charles is the head of the Synchronicity Foundation and has a center in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
The programs were held in the area of the Shiva Ashram in Mount Eliza, about an hour south of Melbourne. Mount Eliza is on the Mornington Peninsula, and its a rural area of rolling hills. (You can find visitor information about the Mornington Peninsula and some pictures at the official site for Melbourne. The ashram has space for about twenty residents, and many other members live in houses close by. The buildings are surrounded by beautiful gardens and include a manmade pond. Swamiji and I stayed in a small house on property adjacent to the ashram.
The programs began with an introductory evening at the Town Hall in Glen Eira, close to the ashram. The program included a short talk by each teacher, chanting and meditation, followed by darshan. About 400 people attended, getting things off to a great start. Two days later a week long residential retreat began at the Shiva Ashram. The retreat programs were held in a tent on the ashram grounds. About fifty people attended the retreat during the day, and about 150 each evening.
The daily schedule for the retreat included morning meditation, seva, arati, a meditation program at noon, hatha yoga, chanting workshops (there were a number of very talented musicians), and an evening program with the teachers. The evening programs varied each night some included talks and darshan by the teachers, some were question and answer sessions, and some included meditation led by one of the teachers. On the following day at noon, one of the guru’s devotees would recap that teacher’s talk and answer questions about it. During the week, each group of devotees had opportunities to make presentations about their practice.
The final part of the program was a weekend intensive back at the Glen Eira Town Hall held from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm each day. Each teacher gave talks for about two hours, with Swamiji starting off as the first speaker on Saturday morning. The program concluded with questions and answers, meditation, and darshan.
There wasn’t any time for sightseeing, but it wasn’t all work. The Shiva Ashram has a really good rock band, and Swami Shankarananda is an excellent blues harp player. The band played at a cafe in the town of Mount Eliza and in the cafeteria at the retreat.
You’ll find a nice article about the whole event at the The 3 Gurus website. There are lots of photos (including a number of mine) on the photo gallery for the event.
The three gurus worked well together and offered an interesting combination of talents and styles. Although they all agreed on the essentials, the differences in their perspectives were revealed in the evening programs. They enjoyed each other’s company and even sang a song together at lunch one day.
During the visit, the three gurus were interviewed by a local radio station and by The Age, a daily newspaper in Melbourne. We’re working to transfer the video of that interview to a format compatible with US electronics so that we can make it available to Institute students. (We’re doing the same with footage of one of the question and answer sessions.)
Everyone in Mount Eliza worked hard to make us feel welcome, and they very were gracious and respectful of Swamiji. As you might expect, Swamiji was very warmly received.
The program was such a success that there’s a possibility that the three gurus will get together for another program next year, and they’re thinking about Los Angeles. Stay tuned for details.
HOME | CONTACT | SITE MAP | LINKS | ARCHIVES | © 2005-2008 THE MOVEMENT CENTER, INC.
http://nityanandainstitute.org/archives_3gurus.php
Shoemaker was an associate and guest of Kruckman at Shiva Ashram, Mt Eliza, as described in a 2004 promotional piece: https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/breaking-the-guru-hoodoo-20041120-gdz0v0.html
Taken from the legal complaint. There are 93 pages of information about abuse, brutalization and harm caused by Shoemaker and his named defedants: Sharon Ward, Monica ONeal, Jen Wilhelm, Andrew Bonner and Rebecca Reese
Contact Lawyers at:
MCALLISTER OLIVARIUS
641 Lexington Ave., 13th Floor
New York, NY
Telephone: (212) 433-3456
DUMAS & VAUGHN, LLC
3835 NE Hancock St., Ste. GL-B
Portland, OR 97212
Telephone: (503) 616-5007
Case 1:23-cv-00891-MC Document 23 Filed 10/16/23 Page 4 of 93
9. From 2005 to 2011, Defendant Shoemaker groomed and assaulted Plaintiff D.T.
while under the guise of a student-teacher relationship at Defendant Movement Center in
Portland, Oregon. Plaintiff D.T., who suffered from recurrent bouts of Graves’ disease and had recently undergone treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, came to the Center because Defendant Shoemaker promised that he could treat her. With the support of the other Defendants,
Defendant Shoemaker represented to Plaintiff D.T. that he was an exalted figure with great power. They instilled in Plaintiff D.T. the belief that not only would she benefit by following Defendant Shoemaker’s instruction, but she would experience severe harm if she upset or disobeyed him.
10. On one occasion in 2007, in addition to other conduct described herein, Defendant
Shoemaker sexually assaulted Plaintiff D.T. by suddenly and without consent choking her until she lost consciousness. Defendant Shoemaker continued to have sex with her while she was unconscious.
11. In August 2008, Defendant Shoemaker escalated his abuse of Plaintiff D.T. He
invited her to his room at the Center for what she thought would be a private meditation session. When Plaintiff D.T. arrived, Defendants Shoemaker and ONeal forced her to ingest significant amounts of cocaine. Defendants Shoemaker and ONeal then coerced Plaintiff D.T. into group sex, including forms of sexual punishment. While disoriented, confused, and unable to consent, Defendants Shoemaker and ONeal took at least one photo of Plaintiff D.T. to send to unknown individuals, in an attempt to arrange for her to meet up with the individuals for sex.
12. A week later, Defendant Shoemaker again drugged Plaintiff D.T., coerced her
into sex acts with him, and attempted to have her to meet up with strangers for group sex.
The complaint alleges: FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT
(Sexual Battery; Intentional Infliction of
Emotional Distress; Negligent Infliction of
Emotional Distress; Negligence; Fraud; ORS
§§ 30.867, 163.266 (Sex Trafficking); 18
U.S.C. §§ 1591, 1594, 1595 (Sex
Trafficking
The named defedants are: J. Michael Shoemaker, Sharon Ward, Jen Wilhelm, Andrew Bonner, Rebecca Reese and The Movement Center and L’Hermitage.
Taken from the complaint” Defendant Shoemaker groomed, repeatedly sexually exploited, sexually assaulted, and trafficked Plaintiff D.T. and Plaintiff G.M.
2. Plaintiffs suffered injuries while under the tutelage of Defendant Shoemaker at
Defendant Movement Center or Defendant Hermitage. Defendant Shoemaker is and was, at all material times, the founder, director, and teacher of Defendant Movement Center. On
information and belief, Defendant Shoemaker is also the leader and teacher of Defendant
Hermitage.
3. Defendant Shoemaker and his inner circle, which included other individual
Defendants and longtime leaders of Defendant Movement Center and/or Defendant Hermitage, engaged in a several decades-long venture of enticing, recruiting, and obtaining, or attempting to
entice, recruit, and obtain, young women, such as Plaintiff D.T. and Plaintiff G.M. to be
trafficked.
4. Defendants ONeal and Wilhelm, while employees of Defendant Movement
Center and/or Defendant Hermitage, aided Defendant Shoemaker by knowingly recruiting,
enticing, and obtaining, or attempting to recruit, entice, and obtain, Plaintiffs to be sex trafficked.
Defendants ONeal and Wilhelm knowingly benefitted financially or by receiving something of value from their direct participation in the trafficking of Plaintiffs.
5. Defendants Ward, Bonner, and Reese, all of whom are part of Defendant
Shoemaker’s inner circle of employees at Defendant Movement Center or Defendant Hermitage, also knowingly benefitted financially or by receiving something of value from the sex trafficking
of Plaintiffs.
Case 1:23-cv-00891-MC Document 23 Filed 10/16/23 Page 2 of 93
Page 3 – FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT MCALLISTER OLIVARIUS
641 Lexington Ave., 13th Floor
New York, NY
Telephone: (212) 433-3456
DUMAS & VAUGHN, LLC
3835 NE Hancock St., Ste. GL-B
Portland, OR 97212
Telephone: (503) 616-5007
Call these lawyers if you were brutalized and wish to discuss your case with an attorney. Human trafficking, using fraud or coercion, under federal law has no statue of limitations.
The amended complaint is available on the PACER system under case #1:23-cv-00891. The second plaintif (taken from the complaint) ” In 2022, D.T. discovered a series of online articles, which described the sexual and psychological abuse that was rampant at the Center and identified Shoemaker as the main
perpetrator.
101. D.T. read stories from other former female members of the Center who were
psychologically and sexually exploited by Shoemaker and individual Defendants. She
recognized that Shoemaker’s behavior fit into the same abusive pattern as what she experienced
at the Center.
102. Until D.T. read the online articles, she did not understand, and reasonably could
not understand, the connection between Shoemaker’s abuse and her injuries due to her
indoctrination by Defendants.”
The Frank Report was the source and the people who wrote of their abuse helped DT gain insight into her brutalization. Thank you to all who have come forward and thanks to Frank for putting their stories in your Reports.
Frank blew the lid off of this vile community and the predatory activity headed up by Michael Shoemaker.
Not only did he publish the stories, he investigated and interviewed survivors to get the facts straight from the victims.
Thank you Frank for coming to the aid of so many of us who were assaulted and abused by this filthy POS
Please stop calling this psychopath a guru.
Frank also published information about Shoemaker’s evil twin, Russell Kruckman, where DT’s abuse began. Daniel Oaks, a journalist from the Australian Broadcasting Network reported on his abuses. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-27/mt-eliza-ashram-guru-russell-kruckman-accused-of-sexual-abuse/13191656
There are plenty of media reports of the antics of the 3 Gurus, Kruckman, Shoemaker and “Master Charles” who griffed the west coast and Australia together. No doubt there are more survivors out there. If you are in Australia, you can contact the In Good Faith Foundation if you have information about Shoemaker or if you need support after leaving a cult. https://igff.org.au/
hes so gross.
They all belong in prison. One of the sickest groups out there and they’ve made millions off of the most vulnerable. Happy to hear there are two with enough evidence to bring the lawsuit.
I’m sure it’s a mere fraction of the many victims that this group has exploited.
Thank you FR for breaking this story nearly two years ago.
The millions were made by selling the Portland property I think
Question: Were those also federal lawsuits like this one? Thanks.
Melinda Mandell brought a civil case in the late 1990’s. This case is on the Oregon Judicial data base. Funny thing, Stephen English was Shoemaker’s lawyer then too. Is he a cult member? or just a good friend who knows how to make a buck off Shoemaker? Mandell settled out of court, Richard Read wrote she got a large settlement. This is the first civil law suit that has been filed with alleged federal charges. There may have been out of court settlements with NDAs. No doubt Sharon Ward knows all, but will say nothing. She will take a bullet for Shoemaker.
Ruth you rock!!!
Hope you send him to jail or kick his head in!!’n
Swami looks like a pickle with evil eyes.
Fabulous News! Great work Frank! I know you have covered this group a lot and given hope to the Survivors! Carol Mecahasin is an incredible force. I wish there were more like her.
Still striking the old ass Charlie’s Angel pose? These women are so cringe.
Who do you mean?
women who stand by these horrible people are just as bad as the abusers because they know what it is to be a woman who is abused they have a moral responsibility to stand up against it
Truth. Every person who knew is complicit. They knew and didn’t try to protect innocents or intervene to stop them from being abused. It is mind boggling to me that ANYONE considered this disgusting cesspool a spiritual community.
in all truth, a lot of women do this all the time. They’ll safely complain about abusers like the Swam, outside their circles, but watch what they do when their man sig other makes a move for their friend. Frequently they’ll blame their friend, rather than call out their sig other.
Some mothers won’t even believe or stand up for their own children! They whim and cower under the patriarchy.
Women will marry and suddenly change their politics, religion, hair color, even the food they like.
Swami rami is an exotic version of what happens in our Christian/Jewish faith organizations. And that’s all the macro version of the micro-familial dysfunctions just next door, or yes, in our own home.
Lets start changing these archaic patterns by examining our own families, communities.
About 5-10 people knew of his sexual deviance out of a thousand. The other 990 students were in fact practicing meditation.
That is a flat out lie. 5-10 doesn’t even brush the victim count. No, you were all turning a blind eye for whatever it was you were worshipping because all that mattered is what you were getting out of it. . People that just came to the retreats a few times a year? Sure, they can have a pass. Not the rest of you, especially not now. Sexually, mentally, physically and emotionally abusing a cancer patient? It’s a miracle she’s alive. I would ask if you people could get with anything more heinous but since there seems to be no level of depravity his followers won’t sink with him why bother? Rich Read well warned you to his shady character two decades ago. Leaving Nityananda told you 14 years ago in the form of many abused students and you wrote them off as “”crazy and jealous” . Not “strong” enough to handle his “power”. Now the REAL EVIL details emerge and you play dumb. What do you all like to call that again like a robot glitching out, oh yeah “consenting adults”. At this point, I hope every single one of you that lived with this right under your noses and haven’t been actively supporting these victims have the asses exposed that you are still so desperately trying to cover. You were all warned. Here are some words to go meditate on. Selfish, cowardly, shallow, weak, phony, heartless and empty.
Scott Hanley, Steve Ott, Jana Peterson, Andrew Bonner, Rebecca Resse, Kelly Ponzi, Margo Massoud Marver, Kerry Kaplen, Lisa Hoberg, Alexis Sanderson, Patty Slote, Jon Shanker, Vivina Boster, Melinda Montague, Viktor Usov, Michelle Valentino, Ellen Sokolow, Charles Pollard, Kari Groningstar, Becca Roberts, Thomas Fabrizio, Chris Jackson, Anna Brook, Drew Carlson, Brenda Sireguse, Cynthia Brown, Belle Motta, Claudia Henry, Tara Dyer, Faith and Andrew Sheppard, Howard Boster, Heather Gail George, Connie Dyer, Chris Cartwright, Guy Boster, NIck Coyle, Theresa and Salman Khan, Cassie Herman, Meryl Romer, Christopher O’Brian, Ruth Knight, Karen and Jerry Sutherland, Saroj Bardewa, Vanessa van Nieuwenluysen, Gretchen Kruger, Margie Pos, Linda Pope, Barnett Davis, Jesse Sweeney, Spridan Stratigos, Annie Bingham, Sarah Storm, Blythe Grandon, Susan Marshall, Marilyn Ritter, Norman Bodek, Robert Shoemaker, Michelle Lawson, James DesRoches, Linda Lack, Isa Raim, Angie Shoemaker, Don Hayes, Aurelio Navarro. Arwen Spina, Jessica Butler, just to name a few who know more. The list goes on and on.
True, weak willed dames. I got no respect for them.
Aren’t we diverting from the real monster ? The Swami is the real problem here.
No respect?
That’s why I stay armed and dangerous…lest “no respect” morphs into physical assault.
They are emotional vampires. He keeps a coven surrounding him as a shield.
The world has gone so PC. Women are so conditioned, they say nothing while men, (actual ball sack men), identify themselves as women, but compete AGAINST biological women in sports.
This is a satirical skit on how far into lame we ve gone. If this PC agenda isn’t cult like, then call me anti-woke artichoke.
https://www.outkick.com/women-quit-jiu-jitsu-tournament-male-naga-transgender-policy/
EXACTLY!!!!!!! Yes! And that’s why Fran k report and the news media outlets are so important !!! Look how the media helped with this !!!!!!!
Don’t cult us pretending that men and women are physically the same !!!!!
Cult !!!! The men force women to pretend it’s okay to agree they are women because they had surgery and they took chemicals that alter their bodies ??? ?? Then women are at the natural disadvantage that they can’t biologically compete fairly !????!!!!!!
Then let women take drugs and get surgery that makes them as strong as MEN !!!!!!!! Stop trying to brain wash people with this nonsense !!!!!!!! Cult !!!!!!!
Cult culture not okay !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stop bullying people !!!!! If people don’t agree with their cult then they’re subject to cancel culture ?!!??! To lawsuits ?!!?!? Wtfffffff!!!!!!!!
No more cult behavior !!!!!!!!!’
Hahahahahaha that’s a good one.
What’s PC?
“The world has gone so PC”
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/international-churches-of-christ-cult-sexual-abuse-indoctrination-pyramid-scheme-lawsuit-1234654868/amp/
What this « guru » is an abomination. Il continue following up with this story. Thank you for your relentless efforts to expose the truth.
Cult corruption is running rampant. Even in the next-door neighbor Churches in USA. Obviously the Catholic Church has been accused of abuse. Then there’s the Church of Christ.
The worst crime anyone could commit is sexual abuse of children.
Religion is supposed to protect innocence and give faith to the vulnerable. When churches are in fact cults covering up corruption, it must be exposed.
Many every day churches use mind control tactics that are very dangerous. Thank you for doing your part.
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23689379-lawsuit-1-salud-gonzalez-v-icoc#document/p30/a2212698
I read about that too.
Five women sue Church of Christ – for ‘covering up child sexual abuse and exerting financial pressure on member to the extent that some killed themselves’
What a monster cult. That cult leader is dangerous.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WKYhDKCm1Io
This cult is scary too.
I always wondered what happened to Mr. Clean.
Sharon Ward. One sick animal.
Can you post the federal lawsuit Frank?
Or a link to it? Thanks for all you do.
https://cdn.fbsbx.com/v/t59.2708-21/387831490_6392543484206708_5737165879487880697_n.pdf/First-Amended-Complaint-GMDT-v-Shoemaker-et-al.pdf?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=2b0e22&_nc_ohc=xJh-Gx_BcjwAX_J7qP8&_nc_oc=AQluYhbgkqbxSVbXerDCMl7CqcYsiz_g2JvCLnP8ocdADMlfArAQ4gMSHZKFttut0t-e2DUxvDCEGbI-A28dKh5a&_nc_ht=cdn.fbsbx.com&oh=03_AdSTCwvjIhhGg6ZvkOKXcXgc3lyvVc9_NyG47-klFn-glA&oe=652FC6EC&dl=1
Thant link is worthless
Thankful to FR and the many victims who came forward to tell their stories. At least two clear victims emerged that met the criteria needed for a federal lawsuit.
The inner circle are sadistic abusers who exploit those most vulnerable.
Follow the money.
They’re responsible for murder and that’s only the beginning. Sexual deviants.
Yes! I’m sorry everyone ignored my story for 20 years. But even though I “don’t meet the criteria needed” I’m fortunate Jayne Lyons & FRANK got me out of mothballs to bring my experience to light to help stop this man.
Carol Merchasin is a champion for justice.
Whose murder?
Who was murdered?
There were two deaths at the Movement Center that have police reports, Ayaz Quadir and Mary Elizabeth Bazzani (Liz). Ayaz’s uncle, Andrew Bonner is reported to have found the body of Ayaz in his room at the Center. Bonner is now a named defendant in the civil case filed against the Movement Center. The amended complaint details Bonner’s knowledge of drug use by Shoemaker and others at the Center as early as 2008, yet in 2009, he encouraged his family to place Ayaz at the Center after his time at rehab, knowing that Ayaz had substance abuse disorder. Bonner led the family to believe Ayaz would be “safe” and taken care of at the Center. Shoemaker was the “abbot” of the Center and this just stinks of reckless endangerment, criminally negligent homicide and total lack of institutional responsibility. Police report does not indicate that any residents at the Center were questioned nor was there a reported search of the 61+ bedroom residence. What was done to Ayaz?
The amended complaint details how Shoemaker used medical adjacent quackery to “treat” DT who ” In or around 1999, when she was 23 years old, D.T. was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a disease which required extensive treatments with severe side effects. ..” “Shoemaker conducted what he termed “osteopathic treatments” on D.T”, “While D.T. lived at the Center, she received treatment regularly – between two to
four appointments a week – from Defendant Bonner and Defendant Reese, and “osteopathic treatments” from Shoemaker. During this period, D.T. was heavily medicated and could barely see at times due to symptoms from her Graves’ Disease and thyroid eye disease.”
Who else was “treated” by Shoemaker, Reese, and Bonner and later, named defendant Jen Wilhelm? Were those who died at the center treated by this tag team? Dr. John Bonner, Laura Modena, Al DeWitt, Phyllis Rudolf (Rudi’s sister). Did they get the medical care that could have given them a more comfortable or longer life? Or were they medically neglected or worse yet “treated” by Shoemaker and his henchmen?
Mary Elizabeth Bazzani a decades long resident and “student” of Shoemaker, allegedly left the Center late at night, but no one saw her leave. Her body was found in a river channel. What was done to her. If she had suicidal thoughts, dementia, psychosis, why wasn’t she offered the help she needed to stay safe and well? Didn’t the Movement Center as a residential institution have a duty to care for the wellbeing of the “students”? Her sister and brother-in-law were residents of the Movement Center, Theresa and Salman Khan, and the police report does not indicate they were questioned about her disappearance, nor was Shoemaker. Keep in mind that Shoemaker strangled women in the shower and then raped them. A slip and fall, a bang on the head and you are dead.
The civil suit charges the named defendants, including the Movement Center with
negligence and fraud. If you have information about abuse at the hands of Shoemaker and his henchmen, or about the deaths of “students” at the Center, get in touch with the lawyers who have filed the civil suit.
Ashley L. Vaughn, OSB 114691
ashley@dumasandvaughn.com
Gilion C. Dumas, OSB 922932
gilion@dumasandvaughn.com
Dumas & Vaughn, LLC
3835 NE Hancock St., Ste. GL-B
Portland, Oregon 97212
Telephone: (503) 616-5007
Carol M. Merchasin,
*Pro hac vice forthcoming
cmerchasin@mcolaw.com
Zachary McConnell,
*Pro hac vice forthcoming
zmcconnell@mcolaw.com
McAllister Olivarius
641 Lexington Ave., 13th Fl.
New York, NY
Telephone: (212) 433-3456
Roll down justice for all those that Shoemaker has brutalized.
The inner circle are abusive and I believe are responsible for murder.
Thank God Frank exposed them and a federal lawsuit has been filed.
Follow the money.
That’s scary.
Frank Report broke another story and the cult will be taken down!
Thank you for your fearlessness and dedication to so many of us who were in desperate situations, and you fought for justice.
Amazing
fantastic
very well done
very good luck
it’s completely time this malevolent piece of shit was brought to justice
people need to wake up to these fake gurus
everywhere you look
fake, fake fake
but no one fakes a $3 note
you always fake something that has some reality behind it
it’s completely time people starting waking up to the real spiritual realities
you are your own guru
no one judges you except yourself
unless
you let them
purge the scoundrels
Oh boy. The good Swami might be in some shit.
That’s the problem when your pecker hits the bottom before a proper cleanse
Swamis headed for the swamp
“… Shoemaker established the Nityananda Institute in 1971 in Bloomington, Indiana. In 1973, allegations suggest Shoemaker engaged in a pattern of grooming and abuse, including the rape of a student. …”
Motto “Explore love, sexuality, and well-being”
Founded at Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.
Purpose Produce and conserve sexual health research and information
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinsey_Institute
Why is the Kinsey Institute connected?
If big shot movers and shakers connected to The Kinsey Institute were involved in Shoemaker’s rise up the ladder — and the astroturfing of that organization — that might connect a few dots in the purposeful eventual unraveling of the fabric of American society.
‘…The John Money Visiting Scholars Study,’
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Money
Mengelian evil.