Two American church leaders have been arrested in connection with a multi-million-dollar human trafficking and fraud conspiracy, following coordinated Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raids across the country on Wednesday, including one in Hillsborough County’s exclusive Avila neighborhood.
In a statement on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed that Michelle Brannon, 56, was arrested at a mansion near Tampa, Florida, while David Taylor, 53, was taken into custody in North Carolina. The pair are accused of running a criminal enterprise involving money laundering, forced labour, and human trafficking.
According to the DOJ, Taylor and Brannon are leaders of the Kingdom of God Global Church, formerly known as Joshua Media Ministries International. Taylor reportedly styled himself as an “Apostle,” while Brannon acted as his Executive Director.
FBI officials said Brannon was arrested at 706 Guisando De Avila in Hillsborough County, a property owned by the church, according to public records. Taylor was arrested the same morning in North Carolina. Meanwhile, SWAT and FBI teams also raided a hotel owned by the church in Houston, Texas.
A 10-count indictment revealed that the defendants operated call centres in Florida, Texas, Missouri, and Michigan, where victims were pressured into making donations to the church. They were then forced to work long hours, either at the centres or as Taylor’s personal aides—referred to as “armour bearers”—without pay.
Federal prosecutors said Taylor and Brannon “controlled every aspect of the daily living of their victims,” who often slept at the call centres or in so-called “ministry houses” and were not allowed to leave without permission.
The indictment further alleged that victims were forced to transport women to Taylor and ensure that they took Plan B emergency contraceptives.
According to the DOJ, the church collected about $50 million in donations through its call centres since 2014. Much of the money was allegedly used to acquire luxury homes, vehicles, and recreational equipment such as boats, jet skis, and ATVs.
Taylor and Brannon now face charges of forced labour, conspiracy to commit forced labour, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Michigan returned the indictment, alleging that the conspiracy exploited victims across Michigan, Florida, Texas, and Missouri.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division said:
“We are committed to relentlessly pursuing and ending this scourge and obtaining justice for the victims.”
U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan also pledged tough action:
“We will use every lawful tool against human traffickers and seek justice for their victims. 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.”
Acting Special Agent in Charge Reuben Coleman of the FBI Detroit Field Office added:
“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 labour and money laundering. The alleged actions are deeply troubling.”
He further praised the FBI field offices across Tampa, Jacksonville, St. Louis, Charlotte, Houston, and the IRS-CI Detroit Field Office, along with local, county, and state partners, for executing the multi-state operation.
Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of IRS Criminal Investigation, Detroit, also condemned the alleged crimes:
“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. IRS-CI stands committed to fighting human trafficking and labour exploitation, and pursuing those who hide their profits gained from the extreme victimization of the vulnerable.”
According to the DOJ, the maximum penalties are as follows:
- Forced labour: up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
- Conspiracy to commit forced labour: up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
- Conspiracy to commit money laundering: up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the value of the laundered assets.
On Wednesday, Brannon appeared in federal court in Tampa, but her legal representation was unclear. The judge noted that her attorneys in St. Louis and Oklahoma were unreachable through the phone numbers she provided.
Brannon admitted she had not heard from them and was advised to secure a lawyer in Tampa before her next hearing, which the judge scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
