The leader of a polygamist cult called Carbon Nation — which believes in nudism, refraining from bathing and defecating on trees — was busted in Hawaii for violating the state’s quarantine order, according to a new report.
Eligio Lee Bishop — who refers to himself as “God” and “Natureboy” — was among 21 people arrested Wednesday and Thursday in Puna, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported.
The group, which reportedly includes other members of Carbon Nation, is accused of violating Hawaii’s 14-day travel quarantine order.
“It’s my understanding that most of them flew in on June 7 or 8. I don’t have 100% confirmation on all of them,” police Lt. Rio Amon-Wilkins said. “We don’t have all the records from the proper authorities to document … mainland incoming passengers. We’re working on that.”
Bishop, 38, allegedly makes his followers hand over their money, credit cards, bank accounts and pin numbers before worshiping, the Costa Rica Star reported in December. The cult practices nudism and polygamy and doesn’t believe in bathing. It also promotes a vegan diet and defecating at the base of trees.
He and other members of Carbon Nation were arrested and booted out of Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama in December after they were deemed a threat to national security.
Some of the 15 members arrested told authorities they were “people of faith, who had voluntarily renounced their biological families to join the family of ‘God’ Eligio Bishop,” the report said.
They initially were not allowed to board a flight because of “overwhelmingly bad body odor,” according to the Costa Rica Star.
Carbon Nation’s YouTube channel — which has nearly 85,000 subscribers — features a video on “The Purpose of Life: Honoring God’s Creation” and a 2½-hour lesson titled “Technologies of the Body with Master Teacher Natureboy.”
Bishop makes a living by making music videos and self-help tapes, according the Costa Rica Star. The Carbon Nation YouTube channel urges donations via CashApp.
In 2017, he came under scrutiny after a woman from Newfoundland, Kayla Reid, joined the cult, CBC News reported.
“I’ve made myself clear that nothing is going on with Kayla, nothing is wrong with Kayla,” Bishop told CBC News at the time. “Kayla is just fine.”
The report said Bishop had previous addresses in Atlanta and New Jersey and has worked as a model, stripper, prostitute and barber.
His rap sheet includes arrests for forcible entry in Georgia in 2009 and theft and aggravated battery in 2011, CBC News reported.