Crime

Criminal investigations, fraud, ATO raids and legal proceedings involving PBCC-connected entities.

Documented criminal cases involving Plymouth Brethren members — from tax fraud and impersonation to the March 2024 Australian Tax Office raid on the PBCC's Sydney Olympic Park precinct. Cases involving UBT, OneSchool Global, and individual members across the UK and Australia.

Crime · Exclusive · USA

Revealed: Senior US Brethren Figure Put $500,000 Into Bail for Church Member Convicted of Killing Four

Jeff Southard, registered agent of both the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church in Ohio and Rapid Relief Team LLC, contributed $500,000 to Clayton Hughes' $2.5 million bail and wrote in support of easing his conditions. Hughes, married to Southard's niece, pleaded no contest to killing four men in the 2024 Dayton airport crash. He is sentenced on 8 September.

Source Brethren Intelligence Exclusive Published August 2026 Read time 6 min Read the exclusive →

Crime · Community · Business

ATO Raids the PBCC: The Sydney Precinct Searched

On 19 March 2024, the Australian Tax Office conducted an unannounced raid on the Sydney address of UBT, OneSchool Global, the Rapid Relief Team, Campus & Co, CoShield Global and Vision Accelerator. Such raids happen only in exceptional circumstances.

Brethren Exposed / The Age / SMH · March 2024 · 7 min read

Brethren Criminality — Part One

A survey of criminal cases involving PBCC members across five countries — vehicular homicide, drink driving, sexual abuse and animal cruelty. The recurring use of church membership as courtroom mitigation.

Open & Candid / Brethren Exposed · 12 min read

Brethren Criminality — Part Two

Named profiles of four cases — Oscar Holley, Brooke Watney, Carlton Slegg and Kester Fentiman — examining inconsistent sentencing and the pattern of church membership as mitigation.

Open & Candid / Brethren Exposed · 14 min read

Crime · Charity

Brethren Member Banned for Tax Fraud

William Gage submitted an altered receipt from The Benevolent Relief Fund and claimed false deductions over 13 years. Terminated and banned by the Tax Practitioners Board.

Brethren Exposed · July 2025 · 5 min read