https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2025/08/27/kingdom-of-god-global-arrests-david-taylor

Two self-proclaimed religious leaders accused in a multistate money laundering and forced labor operation were arrested Wednesday, federal authorities said.

David Taylor, 53, head of the Kingdom of God Global Church, was arrested in Durham, North Carolina, in what the U.S. Justice Department called a “nationwide takedown.” Another church leader, Michelle Brannon, 56, who was described as Taylor’s executive assistant, was arrested in Tampa, Florida.

The Kingdom of God Global Church ran call centers in Michigan, Florida, Texas and Missouri where followers were forced to work without pay, federal authorities said. The call centers, which offered prayer and dream interpretation, raised millions of dollars yearly for the church, formerly known as Joshua Media Ministries International.

Followers slept in the call centers or in “ministry” houses and couldn’t leave without permission from Taylor and Brannon, authorities said.

Taylor, who called himself the “Apostle,” claims to have had face-to-face encounters with God and says he was given the keys to the Kingdom of Earth, authorities said.

He recruited followers from around the county and selected some to be his "armor bearers," serving him around the clock, including maintaining his houses and cars, and transporting women from ministry houses and other locations to Taylor.

Followers who disobeyed an order or failed to reach call center goals were subject to public humiliation, food and shelter restrictions, psychological abuse, sleep deprivation, assaults and threats of divine judgment, authorities said.

Money raised from the call centers — $50 million since 2014 — went toward properties and luxury vehicles for Taylor and Brannon, authorities said.

“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 Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd, who is based in Detroit, said Wednesday.

Taylor and Brannon face charges of conspiracy to commit forced labor, forced labor and conspiracy to commit money laundering after federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment.

Federal agents on Wednesday raided a church property in Houston, where 17 people were removed from a former hotel that was set to be used for a Bible school. Agents also raided a mansion owned by the church in Tampa’s Avila neighborhood.

Federal authorities said in their indictment that Taylor and Brannon operated nine call centers in four states: one in Taylor, Michigan; three in Chesterfield, Missouri; one in Eureka, Missouri; one in Wildwood, Missouri; one in Ocala, Florida; one in Tampa; and one in Houston.

Followers in the church were instructed to claim to be homeless, obtain a government-funded electronic benefits transfer card, which they had to turn over to church staff, and apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance benefits, according to the indictment.

Taylor set high goals for call center workers and punished those unable to meet his expectations, authorities said.

"You'll have to raise $164K today!!" Taylor texted to one of his armor bearers on May 5, 2021, according to the indictment. "Each hour you fall behind consequences will start... we will mess with the food."

"You will fast from the regular food or abstain for a while normally ... As of now there's a 21 day peanut butter and jelly regiment (sic) like before," the text message continued. "(Those) who do not push in their calls individually and as a team with the right amount of people and closing numbers at 6 pm they don't eat dinner at all."

In another punishment, water was thrown on followers to wake them up and their sleeping hours were curtailed, according to the indictment.

"You'll (sic) are not going to bed tonight until you raise $33K let's go!!" Taylor texted on March 10, 2022, to a group called "Military Bootcamp 5 Taylor" that included Brannon.   

Church beliefs emphasize divine healing, prosperity and spiritual warfare and are based on neo-Pentecostal and charismatic traditions.