Freedom Village USA in Yates County has been sold for $1.05 million, according to the Democrat & Chronicle. The controversial faith-based residential school for teens ran up millions in debt, and failed to pay workers, according to the Department of Labor.
The troubled organization, which also operated under the name Gates Community Chapel is no longer operable in New York, according to the D&C’s reporting. They say its founder, paster Fletcher Brothers, moved to Florida.
He solicits donations through a radio show there.
Gerald Dibble, an attorney for the church said the organization, which was incorporated in the 1970s is being dissolved. “There’s no reason in keeping it,” he said.
The sale of the Yates County campus won’t take care of the $1.8 million debt. Most of that debt is tied to unpaid workers, as part of a settlement between the Department of Labor and the Church.
The D&C reports that approximately $366,000 has been paid as part of that judgment thus far.
Check out the full-story from the D&C
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