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. Eisenberg has, so far, denied to comment on allegations.

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