Feds Raid Sterling Apartment Owned by Calvary Temple

By Trevor Baratko
Fairfax County Times
April 5, 2017

http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/feds-raid-sterling-apartment-owned-by-calvary-temple/article_e653cf06-196b-11e7-b8a7-1fe621601450.html


Federal authorities conducted a raid Friday at a Sterling apartment owned by the controversial Calvary Temple church.

A neighbor reported seeing multiple firearms and computers seized from the apartment located at 125 Westwick Court, which land records show is owned by Calvary.

According to Loudoun County Sheriff's Office spokesman Kraig Troxell, the local sheriff's office was assisting the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in executing the federal warrant.

Calls to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were not returned Monday morning.

“Multiple sheriffs’ [deputies] and many ATF agents seized hunting rifles, assault rifles and computers along with many other smaller items,” an eyewitness said.

According to a former member of Calvary, an arrest was made, though the man is believed to have been released the next day.

As first reported by the Times-Mirror in 2015, former congregants of Calvary Temple have alleged physical and emotional abuse – including child sexual assault – at the hands of the church's leadership. Some of the former Calvary members have continually protested outside the church.

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office said in 2015 it had opened an investigation into the church. According to Troxell, "The investigation into allegations made against members of the church remain under investigation in close coordination with the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney."

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office listed nothing about the raid in its incident report released Monday.

According to witnesses, a tenant of another Calvary Temple-owned condo was spotted Saturday removing guns from his residence.