Federal Lawsuit Alleges Child Abuse Scheme by YouTube Influencers

SALT LAKE CITY — A federal lawsuit filed against Jodi Hildebrandt and Ruby Franke, along with their company Connexions Classroom, alleges the women engaged in a racketeering scheme that promoted child abuse and defrauded families. The lawsuit, filed by Michael Tilleman on Jan. 22, seeks millions in damages and claims the abuse of Franke’s children was part of a broader, nearly two-decade-long pattern of harm.

Hildebrandt and Franke are currently serving prison sentences of one to 15 years each after pleading guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse. The charges stemmed from what prosecutors described as “concentration-camp-like” conditions inflicted on two of Franke’s children. Franke, a former YouTube personality with the channel “8 Passengers,” and Hildebrandt operated Connexions Classroom, which offered counseling services, workshops, and social media content.

Tilleman’s lawsuit alleges that Connexions Classroom encouraged clients to engage in illegal and harmful acts, including child abuse and psychological manipulation. He claims the company’s teachings led to “extreme danger” for children, citing the condition of Franke’s children at the time of her arrest. The lawsuit also names Tilleman’s ex-wife, accusing her of implementing Hildebrandt’s methods and endangering their 10-year-old daughter.

According to the 112-page complaint, Connexions Classroom charged exorbitant fees for services, including leadership training programs costing up to $15,000 and monthly subscriptions at $84. The lawsuit alleges the company’s primary objective was to financially and psychologically control clients while promoting family destruction. Tilleman claims the services “prey on individuals in vulnerable positions” and misled clients by offering life coaching instead of licensed therapy.

The lawsuit further details allegations of a “multi-level marketing structure” within Connexions, where participants paid for programs to achieve higher ranks. Hildebrandt allegedly accused victims of fabricated addictions or mental health disorders to coerce them into purchasing expensive services. The complaint states that these practices led to family separations and widespread harm.

Kevin Franke, Ruby Franke’s ex-husband, told ABC4.com he is not involved in Tilleman’s lawsuit but is pursuing his own legal action to seek justice for his family. The defendants have not yet filed a response to the federal complaint.