A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Michigan indicted David Taylor, 53, and Michelle Brannon, 56, for their alleged roles in a forced labor and money laundering conspiracy that spanned Michigan, Florida, Texas, and Missouri.

The two were arrested Tuesday in Carolina North and Florida during a nationwide operation targeting their organization. The operation also included raids in Houston, where federal authorities shut down a headquarters linked to the group.

“Combatting human trafficking is a top priority for the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.

The operation involved FBI agents in Tampa, Jacksonville, St. Louis, Charlotte, and Houston, as well as IRS-CI investigators in Detroit, and local and state law enforcement.

The Religious Front and the Call Centers

According to the indictment, Taylor and Brannon led the Kingdom of God Global Church (KOGGC), formerly known as Joshua Media Ministries International (JMMI). Taylor called himself “Apostle,” and Brannon served as executive director.

The organization operated call centers in several states, where it required followers to collect millions of dollars in donations to fund its purported religious activities. The first center was established in Taylor, Michigan, but later expanded to Florida, Texas, and Missouri.

Victims were forced to meet daily, weekly, and monthly donation quotas, under threat of punishment.

Exploitation and Complete Control

The indictment describes a scheme of psychological and physical abuse. Victims were subjected to long hours of unpaid work, were prohibited from leaving without permission, and many slept in facilities controlled by the organization.

Some followers were turned into Taylor’s “squires,” personal servants available 24 hours a day. They were even ordered to transport women to him and make sure they took emergency contraception.

Those who failed to meet the objectives or disobeyed were punished with: public humiliation, additional forced labor, food and housing restrictions, sleep deprivation, physical and psychological abuse, threats of illness, accidents or eternal damnation.

A luxury empire financed by donations

The scheme allowed Taylor and Brannon to raise around $50 million since 2014, according to the indictment.

Much of these funds were used to purchase luxury properties, high-end vehicles, a boat, jet skis and all-terrain vehicles, far from the religious purpose for which the donations were obtained.

David Taylor will appear in court in Durham, North Carolina, while Michelle Brannon will do so in Tampa, Florida.

If found guilty, they face sentences of up to 20 years in prison prison for the crimes of forced labor conspiracy and money laundering.