Two U.S. church leaders have been arrested in connection with an alleged multi-state forced labour and financial fraud scheme that federal prosecutors say exploited vulnerable followers under the guise of religious service.
The arrests mark the culmination of a years-long investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), shining a harsh spotlight on the activities of the Kingdom of God Global Church, previously known as Joshua Media Ministries International.
On Wednesday morning, GospelRaw learnt that Michelle Brannon, 56, was arrested at a residence in the exclusive Avila gated community in Hillsborough County, Florida. Around the same time, David Taylor, 53, was taken into custody in North Carolina.
Both are accused of running an elaborate operation that prosecutors allege amounted to forced labour, human trafficking, and money laundering under the banner of a religious organisation.
The Justice Department revealed that since 2014, the church has reportedly raised over $50 million in donations, much of which was allegedly diverted to fund luxury purchases such as mansions, expensive vehicles, watercraft, and recreational equipment.
At the centre of the allegations are the so-called “armour bearers”, individuals who were recruited by the church and pressured to live in church-owned housing while working long, unpaid hours at call centres in Michigan, Florida, Missouri, and Texas.
Prosecutors allege that these individuals were restricted in their movements and subjected to coercive control by Brannon and Taylor. The DOJ stated that some victims were even instructed to monitor women who had encounters with Taylor and to ensure they used emergency contraceptives afterwards.
Federal officials made strong statements following the arrests, underscoring the gravity of the charges.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division said: “Combating human trafficking is a top priority for the Department of Justice. We are committed to relentlessly pursuing and ending this scourge and obtaining justice for the victims.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan emphasised the collaborative nature of the case:
“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. We thank them all.”
Acting Special Agent in Charge Reuben Coleman of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office also noted:
“The indictment of David Taylor and Michelle Brannon demonstrates the FBI’s steadfast efforts to protect the American people from human exploitation and financial crimes, including forced labour and money laundering.”
From the financial side, Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge at IRS Criminal Investigation in Detroit, added:
“Money laundering is tax evasion in progress, and in this case, the proceeds funded an alleged human trafficking ring and supported a luxury lifestyle under the guise of a religious ministry.”
The FBI executed coordinated search warrants in several states, including at a church-owned hotel in Houston and the Hillsborough County residence where Brannon was arrested. Public records confirm that the Florida property was registered under the church’s name.
Later on Wednesday, Brannon appeared before a federal judge in Tampa, Florida. Without legal counsel present, she told the judge she had two attorneys, one in St. Louis and another in Oklahoma, but admitted she had not been in contact with them.
Prosecutors informed the court that attempts to reach those attorneys had been unsuccessful. The judge rescheduled her hearing for Thursday afternoon and strongly advised Brannon to secure a local attorney in the meantime.
Taylor, arrested in North Carolina, is expected to be transferred to Michigan to face charges alongside Brannon.
Our correspondent learnt that the case has reignited national debate over the misuse of religious organisations for financial gain and exploitation.
While churches in the U.S. are often trusted as places of refuge, the indictment alleges that Taylor and Brannon manipulated faith to entrap followers into unpaid labour while enriching themselves with donations meant for ministry work.
The Kingdom of God Global Church, headquartered in Missouri, has not yet released a statement responding to the arrests.
