Two Self-Professed Religious Leaders Charged in Forced Labour & Money Laundering Conspiracy

A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Michigan has indicted two individuals for their alleged roles in a forced labour and money laundering scheme that exploited victims across Michigan, Florida, Texas, and Missouri.

David Taylor, 53, and Michelle Brannon, 56, were arrested in North Carolina and Florida following a nationwide operation targeting their organisation, Kingdom of God Global Church (KOGGC), formerly Joshua Media Ministries International (JMMI). According to the indictment, the pair used physical and psychological abuse to coerce victims into working without pay, soliciting tens of millions of dollars in donations that funded their luxury lifestyles.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division emphasised the priority of dismantling human trafficking networks, stating:

We are committed to relentlessly pursuing and ending this scourge and obtaining justice for the victims.

US Attorney Jerome F Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan echoed this commitment, noting that the case was made possible through collaboration between federal agencies and NGOs supporting victims.

The indictment alleges that Taylor and Brannon ran call centres daily to solicit donations, setting unrealistic fundraising goals for victims who were forced to comply under threats of humiliation, sleep deprivation, physical abuse, and even warnings of divine punishment. Victims reportedly lived in ministry houses under strict control, with limited freedom to leave. Some were compelled to act as Taylor’s “armor bearers,” serving as personal attendants around the clock.

Funds raised through the scheme allegedly financed luxury properties, high-end vehicles, a boat, jet skis, and other recreational equipment. Since 2014, Taylor is believed to have received approximately 50 million dollars in donations.

Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of IRS Criminal Investigation in Detroit described the money laundering activities as “tax evasion in progress,” highlighting how illicit proceeds were channelled to support both the forced labour ring and the defendants’ extravagant personal lifestyles.

Taylor and Brannon each face multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit forced labour, forced labour, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Each offence carries potential prison sentences of up to 20 years, alongside substantial fines.

The investigation was led by the FBI, with support from IRS Criminal Investigation. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Sarah Resnick Cohen and Trial Attorney Christina Randall-James of the Justice Department’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.

This case underscores the Department of Justice’s ongoing commitment to tackling human trafficking, labour exploitation, and money laundering that exploit the most vulnerable members of society.

Read the press release here.