Online Cult Leader Convicted Amid Followers' Disappearance

Rashad Jamal, an Atlanta-based former rapper, established the University of Cosmic Intelligence (UCI), an organization authorities have labeled a decentralized online cult. Initially preaching messages of social consciousness to Black and Latino audiences via the internet, Jamal's teachings later took a dramatic and concerning turn.

As his online following grew, Jamal incorporated pseudoscientific conspiracy theories and ancient Sumerian mythology into his narrative. His ex-partner, Darshell Smith, notes that he escalated his message significantly. Despite this, UCI's website remains active, and Jamal's social media channels continue to operate.

In 2023, Jamal was convicted of child molestation and is currently serving a prison sentence in Georgia, though he asserts his innocence. The situation gained further alarm when six UCI followers vanished from a home in Berkeley, Missouri, in August 2023.

These six individuals, who had moved from various parts of the country, had adopted new names and severed contact with their families before their disappearance. They have not been seen or heard from since. A forthcoming television special will examine the UCI cult in detail.