DETROIT – A woman is accused of threatening to kill a Detroit federal judge, a prosecutor and an FBI agent connected to the prosecution of church leader David E. Taylor, 53. She also sent an email to Local 4, with references to the same judge.
The complaint, filed in Detroit, alleges Makeda Charles, 36, of New York “knowingly and willfully transmitted in interstate commerce” multiple communications containing threats to harm individuals involved in the prosecution of Taylor, leader of the Kingdom of God Global Church. The group was previously known as Joshua Media Ministries International.
Charles, described as a “long-time follower” of the organization, allegedly sent threatening messages via email, text message, voicemail, “or some combination of each” to an FBI special agent, a U.S. district judge and an assistant U.S. attorney.
Among them, was a Jan. 14, 2025, text message that included a photograph of Charles “wearing a medical mask and holding a rifle.” The message stated in part: “You’ll get one bullet and be shot dead if you try that s**t again.”
Two days later, the feds said, Charles sent an email with the subject line “Keep it up and get shot.”
The threats, investigators said, intensified after Taylor and others were indicted in a federal investigation for violations of forced labor laws, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit the same.
Background on Taylor, others
Taylor and Michelle Brannon, 56, are accused of forcing call center employees in Michigan, Florida, Texas, and Missouri to endure miserable living conditions. Taylor and Brannon face multiple federal charges, including forced labor, money laundering and conspiracy. Each charge carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Kathleen Klein, 53, also known as “Prophetess,” also faces charges for her alleged role as a leader in the organization.
Court documents claim that Taylor refers to himself as an Apostle and “Jesus’ best friend.” He reportedly claimed to have had multiple face-to-face encounters with God and that God had given him the keys to the Kingdom on Earth.
According to court records, Taylor and Brannon compelled people to work at their call centers and to work for Taylor as his “armor bearers” -- 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 last August.
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 claimed regularly that if someone failed to obey his orders and commands, they were defying God and would suffer in Hell.
Taylor also 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.
Klein, along with Taylor and Brannon, is accused of controlling virtually every aspect of church members’ lives, requiring them to ask permission to leave their housing or call centers and controlling their access to transportation.
“We need people taken to the street,” Klein wrote in one text message sent to a group called “Houston Managers.”
In another message allegedly to a group called “Food Approvals,” Klein wrote, “Low number closers won’t need dinner. They can have PB&J, and to my knowledge, if closers aren’t up, people will be going to the street, so this menu might change significantly.”
More alleged threats by Charles
Charles also sent messages directly to the judge and prosecutor in Taylor’s case, including a facsimile in April 2026 that demanded Taylor’s release and accused the court of wrongdoing, according to investigators.
In an April 21, 2026, email sent to multiple recipients, including media outlets, law enforcement and the judge’s chambers, Charles wrote, while claiming to be Taylor’s wife, “I am a bomb on wall street.” The agent noted that the bomb reference was “consistent with” a 2021 incident described in the complaint.
In that incident, federal investigators said in October 2021, a concerned citizen reported that Charles posted threats on social media while at the Louisville, Kentucky, airport and told the person: “no one should go near her because she will blow herself up … and kill others along with herself.” Charles was hospitalized and received about 12 to 18 months of mental health treatment.
After she was released, investigators said Charles contacted the FBI agent “approximately 100 times” and demanded the agent drop “non-existent charges” against her and stop investigating the church organization.
Court records also described a voicemail left for the judge over the weekend of April 18-19, 2026, in which Charles said, “I demand that you immediately drop the false charges against General Apostle David E. Taylor,” and later added: “I can see why you were shot in the past and robbed and more misfortune come upon you as karma is a b***h.”
Charles’ other arrests
Federal investigators said separately, Charles was arrested in April 2025 after police were called to the church property in Taylor, Michigan, for a report that she refused to leave. Officers were told by a member of church leadership that Charles had been sending threatening messages to parishioners, court records said. Police ultimately arrested Charles for trespassing and resisting arrest.
The FBI agent said the statements in the affidavit were provided “for the limited purpose of establishing probable cause” and do not include all information known to law enforcement.
Email sent to Local 4
Local 4 received an email from someone claiming to be Makeda Charles back on April 25, 2026, and we have confirmed it was sent from the same email address cited in federal documents. While we cannot go into detail on what was written in the lengthy email, Charles allegedly said, in part, “General David E. Taylor is being held hostage under false pretenses.” She also referenced the same judge and made threatening statements. The email has been handed over to the FBI.
Defenders of church, its leaders
Groups of supporters have been outside federal court in Detroit in support of the church, Taylor and Brannon for months on and off. They held signs and wore clothing with messages disputing the allegations and calling for their release.
“We are a Christian Church, not a cult,” one sign read.
Other messages said, “We are a church, not a cult,” and “Jesus loves you.”
Several sweatshirts carried the same statement: “I am not a victim. Free David E. Taylor.”
Additional messages included: “Apostole Taylor was wrongfully locked up,” “Stand up and fight back,” “Free David E. Taylor,” and “Free our pastor.”
Other signs criticized federal authorities, including: “The FBI stole money from the church!” “The FBI is exaggerating,” “The FBI is attacking the church in America,” “The FBI took our Bibles,” “The FBI trashed our church,” and “The FBI lies.”
A woman named Kea Jones, also told Local 4’s Noelle Friel in March 2026, that she has been Brannon’s longtime caretaker and has helped with her medical needs. She wanted Brannon to live with Jones while out on bond, provided that she disassociates with the church and has no contact with its members.
“They have criminalized our church to make it look like we’re a criminal organization and we are a Christian church that glorifies God every day,” Jones said. “They try to call us victims in the news, they try to say that they were rescuing us, but they put guns to our faces, and they are treating us like fugitives.”
In court, prosecutors cited a message recovered from Jones’ phone using the messenger app Signal, which uses end-to-end encryption to secure text messages.
While prosecutors didn’t read the message aloud, they argued that Jones appeared to be tampering with a witness in the case by passing along a message from Taylor.
The request to allow Brannon to live with Jones was denied by the judge, citing the text message and the fact that Jones is a witness for the defense.
Taylor, Brannon, and Klein are scheduled to go on trial in November.