Federal authorities in the United States have arrested two senior leaders of a religious organization accused of orchestrating a $50 million criminal scheme involving human trafficking, forced labour, and money laundering, all under the guise of a ministry.

 

The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Wednesday that Michelle Brannon, 56, was taken into custody at a mansion linked to the church in Hillsborough County, Florida, while David Taylor, 53, was apprehended in North Carolina.

 

Both suspects are identified as leaders of the Kingdom of God Global Church, formerly known as Joshua Media Ministries International.

 

According to a federal indictment, Taylor and Brannon operated call centres in Florida, Texas, Missouri, and Michigan, where victims were allegedly coerced into working long hours without pay and subjected to strict surveillance and control.

 

Authorities allege that some victims were forced to serve Taylor personally as so-called “armour bearers”, and were not allowed to leave church properties without permission. Shocking details in the indictment also claim that some women were trafficked to Taylor and allegedly compelled to take emergency contraceptives after being exploited.

 

Since 2014, the church reportedly collected more than $50 million in donations, a significant portion of which was used to fund a lavish lifestyle—including the purchase of luxury homes, high-end vehicles, boats, and other expensive items.

 

Both Taylor and Brannon face multiple federal charges, including:

• Forced labour

• Conspiracy to commit forced labour

• Conspiracy to commit money laundering

 

Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

 

“These arrests are part of a broader national effort to dismantle criminal organizations exploiting religious platforms for abuse and financial gain,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon.

 

U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. noted that the investigation was a coordinated effort among several federal agencies, including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

 

An IRS spokesperson confirmed that financial records show substantial laundering of donor funds, which were diverted into “a luxury lifestyle disguised as religious activity.”

 

FBI officials described the allegations as “deeply troubling”, praising the coordinated multi-state raids that led to the suspects’ arrests.

 

Michelle Brannon appeared briefly in a federal court in Tampa, Florida, on Wednesday. She was unrepresented at the time, and the judge adjourned the hearing until Thursday to allow her to secure legal counsel.

 

Investigations are ongoing, and prosecutors have indicated that more victims may be identified as the case unfolds.