An attorney known for past legal misconduct is now representing Bishop T.D. Jakes' imprisoned former son-in-law claims to be preparing a civil lawsuit accusing the megachurch founder and his daughter of sexual abuse and misconduct.

According to The Christian Post, these new allegations are surfacing amidst an ongoing defamation case brought by Jakes against former pastor Duane Youngblood and others, intensifying legal tensions on multiple fronts.

Richard Brandon Coleman, 36, also known by his stage name “SkiiVentura,” is currently serving time in a Texas prison after being convicted of aggravated sexual assault and indecency with a child. Coleman was married for 10 years to Cora Jakes, the daughter of Bishop T.D. Jakes and the couple adopted two children during their marriage before divorcing in January 2022.

Their shared legal history has come back into focus after Houston-based attorney Larry Blackburn, who has previously faced citations for unethical filings, announced late last week that he plans to represent Coleman and other unnamed male individuals in a potential civil action. The proposed lawsuit would allege a range of sexual misconduct by Bishop Jakes, including inappropriate text communications, grooming behaviors, and violations of federal transport laws typically used in trafficking cases.

Blackburn introduced these claims in a legal filing submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on Friday. This filing is linked to Bishop Jakes’ ongoing defamation suit that was filed in November 2024 against Duane Youngblood and 10 unidentified parties. Jake's legal team, represented by Dustin A. Pusch and others, has pointed to Blackburn’s history of procedural impropriety, claiming his submissions included fabricated citations and misleading legal arguments.

Potential class action adds more controversy

Blackburn contends that his professional conduct is being mischaracterized in an effort to deflect attention from the allegations he plans to bring forward. He noted in a court filing that his outreach asking for cooperation regarding service of future cases was “fully within the bounds of professional correspondence.”

He also expressed no intention of backing down from the case, saying that no amount of professional retaliation would deter him. He emphasized that even if disciplinary actions were pursued, he would continue advocating for the individuals he claims are victims. According to Blackburn, Bishop Jakes’ legal team is attempting to weaponize the disciplinary system to derail his claims.

One of Blackburn’s most explosive assertions relates to the treatment of immigrant children once reportedly housed through affiliates of Bishop Jakes’ church. Blackburn alleges that several of these children are now unaccounted for after their parents were deported, although no criminal investigations or documentation verifying these claims have yet surfaced.

Adoption questions and past public outcry

In addition to sexual misconduct, Blackburn also claims that Cora Jakes manipulated a friend, Michelle Loud, into relinquishing custody of her child, now named Jason. Blackburn describes this as part of a broader pattern of coercion and emotional exploitation.

Michelle Loud had previously gone public with a video in which she tearfully recounted being taken advantage of at a vulnerable time in her life. Loud said that Cora Jakes recorded video testimony under the guise of “counseling,” which she later used as evidence in court against her. The video has since been removed.

“She played on my vulnerability,” Loud said in one portion of the recording. Another excerpt detailed her claim that Cora Jakes used recorded sessions as leverage in the legal fight for custody of her son. While her allegations have drawn attention on social media, no criminal charges have been filed in connection with her claims.

Jake's family leadership transition amid legal fire

In April 2025, just months before these most recent legal claims emerged, Bishop Jakes announced he would transfer leadership of The Potter’s House megachurch to his daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and her husband, Touré Roberts. The timing of the leadership handover is now being interpreted by some observers in the legal community as strategically significant, given the intensifying scrutiny facing the Jakes family.

According to Blackburn, the defamation lawsuit filed by Jakes against Youngblood was a tactical decision intended to silence critics and preempt a wider legal fallout. He asserts that the suit initiated by Bishop Jakes was advised by attorney Dustin Pusch as a preemptive measure to derail any class action lawsuit he might file on behalf of sexual abuse survivors.

Pusch, however, characterized Blackburn’s efforts as nothing more than threats lacking follow-through. He confirmed that to date, no class action has been filed and that Blackburn appears to represent only Coleman in any official legal capacity.

Disputed legal correspondence and financial demands

The initial escalation followed a letter sent by Blackburn to Bishop Jakes, demanding $6 million and warning of forthcoming litigation. Youngblood, who is at the center of the defamation case brought by Jakes, later claimed he neither authorized nor was aware of that letter.

Pusch and co-counsel have requested over $71,000 in attorney’s fees related to their response to what they allege were Blackburn’s ethically questionable filings. Pusch maintains that Blackburn's references to a class-action suit first appeared in vague threats months ago and have yet to materialize into any actual court action beyond representing Coleman individually.

In his most recent public comments, Blackburn vowed to move forward with or without formal legal resources. “Even if all I have is a bullhorn in front of the US Department of Justice,” Blackburn said, “I will get justice for my clients.”