Tag: Jodi

SALT LAKE CITY — A federal lawsuit has been filed against Jodi Hildebrandt, Ruby Franke and their company, Connexions Classroom, claiming the women participated in electronic fraud and promoted a methodology that encouraged child abuse among their clients.

Hildebrandt and Franke are both in prison after pleading guilty to abusing two of Franke’s children in what prosecutors called “concentration-camp-like” abuse. They each admitted to four counts of aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony, and were sentenced to one to 15 years in prison for each charge.

Franke, who previously ran the “8 Passengers” YouTube channel with over 2.3 million subscribers, helped operate the YouTube channel associated with Connexions Classroom. She and Hildebrandt also produced a podcast and other social media content.

Complainant Michael Tilleman claimed on Jan. 22 in a federal lawsuit seeking millions of dollars that the abuse of Franke’s children was “part of a larger scheme spanning nearly two decades,” which damaged hundreds of families, including his family and thousands of individuals.

He claimed the two women were engaged in a racketeering enterprise by advertising and selling fraudulent services and encouraging others to perpetuate illegal and harmful acts — specifically child abuse, child torture and psychological abuse.

Tilleman, who paid for some of their services at his wife’s behest, claims the concepts taught by Hildebrandt ultimately led children to “extreme danger,” citing the condition of Franke’s children when she was arrested.

The lawsuit was also filed against Tilleman’s ex-wife, alleging that she “enthusiastically” implemented Hildebrandt’s teachings for over a decade and endangered their now 10-year-old daughter. He said he did not realize, when he encountered various injuries on his daughter when she was with him, that physical abuse was encouraged in Connexions. Now he thinks a sunburn, signs of dehydration and other injuries she had could have stemmed from abuse, citing excerpts from Franke’s journal about the abuse of her children.

He said his ex-wife continues to implement Hildebrandt’s teachings even after Franke and Hildebrandt’s convictions, expressing an ongoing concern for his daughter.

The lawsuit lists stories from other clients of Hildebrandt, citing multiple times she received professional discipline. It said her methods are “destructive to families and marriages” and the destruction is a “primary objective” of Connexions.

The 112-page lawsuit says the two women encouraged members to purchase expensive services and products to gain control over them and benefit financially, listing prices for leadership training programs at almost $5,000 and $15,000 and multiple monthly subscriptions at $84 a month. The lawsuit claims Connexions was designed to brainwash individuals into paying for services that would ultimately cause them pain, bringing them under the company’s financial and psychological control.

Tilleman claims the counseling services, classes and digital and written materials produced by Connexions “prey on individuals in vulnerable positions.” The lawsuit claims Hildebrant encouraged women to manufacture marital problems and violate a father’s parental rights, including court orders.

Although she advertised her background as a therapist, the lawsuit claims Hildebrandt offered “life coaching” instead of therapy, to evade the professional responsibilities of a therapist — further misleading clients.