Arrest made after cannabis seizure at Riverdale church

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story stated cannabis flower, THC vapes, cannabis pre-rolls and THC edibles were being sold at Khensv Bvildr 508c1a Inc. This was an allegation made by police. It also stated the church was found to be open and operating. This has been retracted, as the church is a private religious institution and not a business that is open to the public. This story was also updated March 27 to provide additional information, comment and context.

The New York City Sheriff’s Office seized cannabis products from a private-membership church on West 238th Street March 11 around 3 p.m.

Police reported they took cannabis flower, THC vapes, cannabis pre-rolls and THC edibles that were allegedly being sold at Khensv Bvildr 508c1a Inc. The church lacked the required registration, license or permit from the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, according to a seizure notice and order to cease unlicensed activity posted on the church’s window.

A summons notice from the New York City Department of Finance, also posted on the window, said the church’s maximum penalty is $25,000.

Christopher McCray, 41, was arrested during an inspection at the church, police said. He was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. The misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine of $1,000.

McCray said he was acting in a representative capacity as an administrator for the church, which is a private religious institution he noted is recognized as a 501(c)(3) entity, not a business.

Khensv Bvildr is a private church that practices Kemeticism, or a religious movement that draws from ancient Egyptian worship. Membership-only services run the first Sunday of every month, and serve as a place to find “community, worship and spiritual growth,” according to Khensv Bvildr’s website. As someone who grew up in Riverdale, McCray said he also knows the church is the only African-administered church in the community.

The church makes various herbal sacraments, ranging from hemp to Kalawalla, available to parishioners, McCray explained. This is part of the church’s emphasis on holistic alternatives and applications, he said.

According to McCray, the space was initially intended to be a spin cycle studio. However, the studio opened just months before the pandemic struck, he said, and the space was forced to close as it was considered non-essential.

At that point, he and his wife, who are herbalists by trade in addition to practitioners of their religion, were providing the community with alternative healing remedies, he said. In particular, he said they provided herbs and remedies proven to assist the human immune system. They became a space that offered sanctuary, he explained, and began allowing people further insight into the lifestyle of their religion, including alternative eating practices and habits. He and his wife have both adhered to raw vegan diets for the past 10 years, he added.

The couple offered a vegan bodega, where McCray said community members could gain insight on alternative foods that were still familiar to their palates. However, the endeavor ended up costing too much money out of pocket and had to close, he said.

But the community and wellness focus of both the spin cycle studio and the vegan bodega remain at Khensv Bvildr. McCray said the church continues to provide the microgreens that were available at the bodega, which they grow, give away and educate others on. They also maintain their community fridge, which provides food 24/7, he said.

The church also provides clothing and other supplies to the community, both through an ongoing vintage boutique and other giveaways, McCray said. Every Sunday, he said the church puts out a rack of clothing that is available to the community free of charge. Recently, they also hosted a giveaway where toys, baby clothes and essentials for children were offered for free, he shared.

In addition, the church works to provide programming for schools, teaches chess, hosts small events and assists the community with other educational and service-based efforts, including estate-planning support, McCray explained.

After the entry by law enforcement, McCray said he is seeking legal remedy regarding claims made by officials. He plans to do so through discovery of information such as the weights, chain of custody and lab or toxicology materials assessed by law enforcement.