2 Church Leaders, 1 With Tampa Ties, Charged In Forced Labor Scheme

TAMPA, FL — Two church leaders, including one with Tampa ties, face federal charges for their roles in a forced labor and money laundering scheme that targeted people in several states, including Florida.

David Taylor, 53, and Michelle Brannon, 56, were arrested Wednesday in North Carolina and Florida, respectively, prosecutors with the U.S. Department of Justice announced. Both were charged with conspiracy to commit forced labor and conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to a ten-count indictment.

“We will use every lawful tool against human traffickers and seek justice for their victims,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan, where the indictment was filed. “A case like this is only possible through a concerted effort with our federal partners across the country and the non-governmental agencies that provide victim support."

According to the indictment, Taylor and Brannon are the leaders of Kingdom of God Global Church, formerly Joshua Media Ministries International. Taylor referred to himself as “Apostle” and to Brannon as his executive director.

Prosecutors said their organization ran call centers that solicited donations for the church. The first opened in Taylor, Michigan, followed by others in Florida, Texas and Missouri.

According to the indictment, Taylor and Brannon forced their victims to work at their call centers and to work for Taylor as his “Armor Bearers," or personal servants who fulfilled Taylor’s demands around the clock.

Prosecutors said Taylor and Brannon controlled every aspect of their victims' lives. According to the indictment, victims slept in the call center facility or in a “ministry” house, and Taylor and Brannon did not permit them to leave without permission. Prosecutors said Taylor demanded that his "Armor Bearers" transport women from ministry houses, airports, and other locations.

Additionally, prosecutors said Taylor and Brannon required victims to work in the call centers for long hours without pay or to perform other services for Taylor.

According to the indictment, Taylor set unattainable daily, weekly, monthly and yearly monetary donation goals for victims working in the call centers and required them to follow the orders he created without question.

If victims disobeyed an order or failed to reach his monetary goals, prosecutors said Taylor and Brannon punished the victims with public humiliation, additional work, food and shelter restrictions, psychological abuse, forced repentance, sleep deprivation, physical assaults and threats of divine judgment in the form of sickness, accidents and eternal damnation.

The church received millions of dollars in donations each year through its call centers, prosecutors said. Taylor and Brannon used portions of the money to purchase luxury properties, luxury vehicles and sporting equipment such as a boat, jet skis and ATVs, according to the indictment.

In total, Taylor received about $50 million in donations since 2014.

Taylor appeared on the indictment on Wednesday in Durham, North Carolina, while Brannon appeared in Tampa. If convicted on all charges, both could face up to 60 years in prison.