Federal officials say a self-proclaimed religious leader prepped his followers to use violence against resistance, evening telling them to “kill on contact.”
He is accused of urging violence against authorities, according to court documents.
2 charged in alleged conspiracy
Two self-proclaimed religious leaders have been charged in a multi-state forced labor and money-laundering conspiracy, and recently obtained court documents have revealed more details about what they encouraged in their teachings.
David Taylor, 53, and Michelle Brannon, 56, were arrested on Aug. 27, 2025. Taylor was taken into custody in Durham, North Carolina, and Brannon was arrested in Tampa, Florida.
They are accused of victimizing people who worked in call centers in Michigan, Florida, Texas and Missouri, that solicited donations for their organization, Kingdom of God Global Church, which was formerly Joshua Media Ministries International.
Taylor referred to himself as “Apostle,” and Jesus’ best friend, and Brannon was his executive director and Taylor’s second-in-command. Taylor claimed that “God has given him the ‘keys to the Kingdom on Earth.’”
They convinced people to work in the call centers as Taylor’s “arm bearers,” or personal servants who worked to fulfill all of his demands around the clock, officials said.
Both of them allegedly compelled labor from the workers by means including “force, physical restraint, serious harm, and threat of those actions.”
A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Michigan indicted Brannon and Taylor on one count of conspiracy to commit forced labor, five counts of forced labor and one count of money laundering conspiracy. Taylor also faces two more counts of forced labor.
Note: The video at the top of this article is from previous coverage on Aug. 27, 2025.
Local 4 obtained court documents on Sept. 19 that federal prosecutors filed in the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, requesting that Brannon be detained until her trial.
The prosecutors argued that there is “no condition or combination or conditions of release that will reasonably assure her appearance, the integrity of this proceeding, or the safety of any person or the community.”
They claim there is a “serious risk” that Brannon will flee and try to intimidate the victims.
Teachings encouraged workers to commit self-inflicted harm, prosecutors say
The document claims that for 12 years, Brannon loyally followed Taylor’s instructions and teachings.
His teachings encouraged workers to hurt themselves or others, including police, “when and if his organization is confronted by law enforcement.”
Taylor also said he would “punish and ‘get rid of’” any of the workers who didn’t serve him, according to the document.
What Taylor said about Michigan AG, FBI agents
During a meeting with the call center workers, Taylor allegedly brought up the idea of law enforcement officials going into their organization.
He brought up the Michigan Attorney General’s Office and said:
“God will kill officials.”
Taylor also said, “Like I told you the other day, they gonna be in here with their FBI jackets on ... You don’t scare me. God’s gonna to get you. And I am going to make sure he do, too. I am going to make sure I speed it up.”
“I’m going to be looking at you in Hell and you are going to be having your little FBI jacket on,” Taylor further said. “Who gonna save you then? The American government is not going to save you. They cannot save you. Not from this government I serve. You think they are protecting you, who is going to protect you after you leave here? They are not going to protect you. Not in my realm, not in the realm that I govern. I have been given power by the only one who counts. We will watch you burn and the flesh melt off of your bones.”
‘Kill them on contact’
Taylor also talked to the workers about stopping people who try to interfere with him.
“This probably prophetic. God having me say this to you [name omitted of a member], but I’m just telling you, Taylor said. ”And I think I’m probably gonna hire some security or something too.”
“But I am just telling you, you kill them on contact if they come in here with that foolishness you understand? They need to die. They come in with an ‘AKA’ or those guns, these n***** be carrying in Houston and they come in trying to shoot up. Listen do not hesitate!”
After Taylor said this, the workers allegedly responded in unison and said, “Yes, Sir!”
‘Preparing soldiers’
During meetings and online broadcasts, Taylor also used words such as“war” and “battle, according to the document.
More than once, Taylor referred to himself as “General” and claimed he was “preparing soldiers” and “training the end time army.”
Federal prosecutors also said that he listed a text threat as “military bootcamp.”
Detained
Due to Brannon’s years of following Taylor’s direction with “fierce loyalty,” federal prosecutors requested that Brannon be detained as her case moves forward.
A judge ruled that Brannon will be held without bail until her trial. A date for her trial hasn’t been set yet.