So-called religious leaders accused of exploitation, money laundering

A grand jury indicted two leaders in the Kingdom of God Global Church for an alleged scheme involving forced labor and money laundering, according to a Wednesday release from the Department of Justice. Officials said they took down a national forced labor organization that victimized individuals from across Michigan, Florida, Texas, and Missouri. Eliminating human trafficking is a top priority for the Justice Department, according to the Civil Rights Division’s Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon.

The accused, David Taylor and Michelle Brannon, allegedly forced victims to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week in call centers soliciting donations for the church, formerly known as Joshua Media Ministries International. Taylor referred to himself as an apostle, with Brannon serving as Taylor’s executive director, according to the DOJ.

How did they force people to work in call centers? The pair referred to call center workers as “armor bearers," who functioned as personal servants for Taylor all day, every day, the indictment alleged. The call centers received millions of dollars in donations every year, totalling about $50 million since 2014, according to the DOJ.

Taylor and Brannon controlled every aspect of victims’ daily lives, with many sleeping at the call center, according to the indictment. Victims were forced to work long hours without pay or perform other services for Taylor, the DOJ alleged. Taylor had the so-called armor bearers transport women to and from various locations and ensured that the women being transported took Plan B emergency contraceptives, the DOJ said.

The pair set unattainable monetary donation goals for victims working in the centers, and those who did not meet goals or disobeyed orders in any way were punished, according to the indictment. Punishments included public humiliation, additional work, restrictions on food and shelter, forced repentance, sleep deprivation, and physical assaults, according to the DOJ. Taylor also allegedly threatened divine judgment on victims in the form of sickness, accidents, and eternal damnation, along with other psychological abuse, the indictment continued.

What did he do with the money made from the call center? Taylor and Brannon used most of the donations to purchase luxury properties and vehicles, along with expensive leisure equipment, including a boat, jet skis, and ATVs. Both were arrested on Wednesday on charges of conspiracy to commit forced labor, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and forced labor. Each charge carries a maximum of 20 years in prison and altogether, the charges could result in a penalty of $1 million in fines per defendant.