DETROIT – Two self-proclaimed religious leaders are facing federal charges for their alleged roles in a forced labor and money-laundering conspiracy across four states, including Michigan.
David Taylor, 53, and Michelle Brannon, 56, were arrested on Aug. 27, 2025, in North Carolina and Florida in what federal officials called a nationwide takedown of their alleged forced labor organization.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Michigan, Taylor, who refers to himself as “Apostle,” and Brannon, his executive director, are the leaders of Kingdom of God Global Church, formerly Joshua Media Ministries International. The two are accused of victimizing people working at call centers that solicited donations for their organization in Michigan, Florida, Texas and Missouri.
According to court records, Taylor and Brannon compelled people to work at their call centers and to work for Taylor as his “armor bearers.”
Armor bearers were Taylor’s personal servants who fulfilled his demands around the clock, officials said.
“Taylor and Brannon controlled every aspect of the daily living of their victims,” said the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The victims reportedly slept in the call center facility or in a “ministry” house, and Taylor and Brannon allegedly did not permit the victims to leave without permission.
Taylor allegedly demanded his armor bearers transport women from ministry houses, airports and other locations to his location and ensure the women who were transported to him took Plan B emergency contraceptives.
Court documents also claim that Taylor and Brannon required people to work in the call centers for long hours without pay or perform other services for Taylor.
“Taylor set unobtainable daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly monetary donation goals for victims working in the call centers and required victims to follow the orders he created without question,” said the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
If the people disobeyed an order or reached Taylor’s monetary goals, Taylor and Brannon allegedly punished them 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.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Kingdom of God Global Church received millions of dollars in donations each year through its call centers.
Taylor and Brannon allegedly used most of the money to buy luxury properties, luxury vehicles and sporting equipment including a boat, jet skis and ATVs.
Taylor reportedly received about $50 million in donations since 2014.
“Combating human trafficking is a top priority for the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We are committed to relentlessly pursuing and ending this scourge and obtaining justice for the victims.”
“We will use every lawful tool against human traffickers and seek justice for their victims,” said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. “A case like this is only possible through a concerted effort with our federal partners across the country and the non-governmental agencies who provide victim support. We thank them all.”
“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 labor and money laundering,” said Reuben Coleman, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The alleged actions are deeply troubling. I want to thank the members of the FBI Detroit Field Office, with strong support from our federal and agency partners in the FBI Tampa Field Office, FBI Jacksonville Field Office, FBI St. Louis Field Office, FBI Charlotte Field Office, FBI Houston Field Office, and the Detroit IRS-CI Field Office, in addition to several local, county and state law enforcement partners, for their role in executing this multi-state operation. The FBI in Michigan will continue to investigate those who violate federal law and remain focused on ensuring the protection and safety of our nation.”
“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,” said Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “IRS-CI stands committed to fighting human trafficking and labor exploitation, and pursuing those who hide their profits gained from the extreme victimization of the vulnerable.”
Taylor and Brannon face multiple charges including Conspiracy to Commit Forced Labor, which carries up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000, Forced Labor, which carries up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000 and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, which carries up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $500,000 or twice the value of the properties involved in the money laundering transactions.
David John is the lead pastor of Impact Church Metro Detroit in Novi. He tells Local 4 one of his family members joined Kingdom of God Global Church and says he was shocked to learn about Taylor and Brannon’s arrests.
“If that is true, I am deeply concerned if someone I care about is being victimized in this way,” John said. “That’s not the spirit of Christ, that you have to follow me, you have to be a part of my church, or else you’re defying God. It really is - those are the markings of a cult.”
John said his loved one began to lose contact with family after joining the ministry. After learning about the accusations in the indictment, John said it raised a red flag.
“That should’ve been a red flag,” John said. “That should’ve really created more concern and more of an alarm that there is this large amount of time that they’re not communicating.”
He said he’s praying for everyone involved in the ministry, hoping those who were victimized can now start to find healing.
“I pray that for everybody that’s victimized in this way or by any personality or person that’s propped up as a leader that they get out of that,” John said. “That’s my hope and prayer.”