Editing Nuwaubian Nation (section)

===York's prosecution and the demolition of Tama Re===

Based on allegations of child molestation made by ex-members, from 1997 the FBI had been building a criminal case against York.{{sfn|Palmer|2010|p=84}} On May 8, 2002, the FBI raided Tama Re, using over 300 agents from the FBI, the ATF, and the county sheriff's department.{{sfn|Palmer|2010|pp=87, 89}} Five teenagers were taken into [[protective custody]].{{sfn|Palmer|2010|p=91}} That same morning authorities arrested York in a supermarket in [[Milledgeville, Georgia|Milledgeville]].{{sfn|Palmer|2010|p=90}} He was initially charged with 116 counts pertaining to child molestation, although these were later reduced to 114;{{sfn|Palmer|2010|p=91}} prosecutors subsequently added charges under the [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act]] in November 2002.{{sfn|Palmer|2010|p=126}} In October 2002, York pled not guilty,{{sfn|Palmer|2010|pp=99-100}} but at the advice of his attorney, Ed Garland, in January 2003 he changed his plea to guilty in return for a promised 15-year sentence.{{sfn|Palmer|2010|pp=xvii, 99-100}} This [[plea bargain]] was subsequently rejected by the High Court judge, [[Hugh Lawson (judge)|Hugh Lawson]].{{sfn|Palmer|2010|p=100}} 

[[File:Florence ADMAX.jpg|thumb|left|York was incarcerated at ADX Florence in Colorado]]

As a result of substantial negative media attention directed at the Nuwaubians, the original jury pool was declared tainted and the trial was relocated to [[Brunswick, Georgia]], where it began in January 2004.{{sfn|Palmer|2010|pp=104-107}} There, the prosecution brought forth witnesses who claimed York had committed abuse from 1988 onward.{{sfn|Palmer|2010|p=111}}
In the trial, York's defence attorney Adrian Patrick highlighted the lack of physical evidence for any molestation and claimed that those making the allegations were part of a conspiracy connected to Jacob, who was motivated by a grievance against his father.{{sfn|Palmer|2010|pp=110, 114}} 

The jury ultimately found York guilty on four counts of racketeering and six child-molestation related charges.{{sfn|Palmer|2010|p=114}} In April, Judge [[C. Ashley Royal]] sentenced York to a 135-year sentence, which would be served in the [[ADX Florence]] federal prison in [[Colorado]].{{sfn|Palmer|2010|p=1, 115}} In July, Royal issued an order allowing the state seizure of Tama Re, deeming it to be among York's personal assets. Its structures were demolished and the land was sold at auction.{{sfn|Palmer|2010|p=121}} In September 2005, York's conviction was upheld by the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit]].{{sfn|Palmer|2010|pp=124-125}}

Following the conviction, three witnesses for the prosecution retracted their testimony;{{sfn|Palmer|2010|p=xxxix}} the prosecution's star witness, Abigail Washington, recanted her testimony and declared York innocent, only to then rescind her recantation.{{sfn|Palmer|2010|pp=117-120}} Many of York's followers maintained that he was the innocent victim of a conspiracy by the "White Power Structure" and disgruntled ex-members.{{sfn|Palmer|2010|p=xv}} A solidarity meeting brought Nuwaubians together with representatives of the [[New Black Panther Party]], [[Universal Zulu Nation]], the [[Prince Hall Masons]], and the [[Moorish Science Temple]].{{sfn|Palmer|2010|p=xxx}} York's supporters subsequently established fundraising groups committed to securing his release.{{sfn|Palmer|2010|p=xv}} 

{{As of|2024}}, the original Bushwick, Brooklyn, compound continues to function as both a bookstore and a place of religious service under the group "United Sabaeans Worldwide", with their bookstores now spread across the globe.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Global Bookstores |url=https://unitedsabaeansworldwide.com/contact-us/book-stores/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408232941/https://unitedsabaeansworldwide.com/contact-us/book-stores/#99c228d6f02b6c541 |archive-date=April 8, 2024 |access-date=April 8, 2024 |website=United Sabaeans Worldwide}}</ref>