Overview

• A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Michigan returned a 10-count indictment charging David E. Taylor, 53, and Michelle Brannon, 56, with conspiracy to commit forced labor, multiple forced-labor counts, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
• The FBI and IRS-CI conducted a coordinated takedown, arresting Taylor in Durham, North Carolina, and Brannon in Tampa, Florida, and executing searches at ministry sites including a Houston property identified as a call center.
• Prosecutors allege the Kingdom of God Global Church ran donation call centers across Michigan, Florida, Texas and Missouri, using unpaid labor under strict control, punishments, and isolation.
• Court filings say the operation raised roughly $50 million since 2014, with funds allegedly used for luxury properties, vehicles and recreational equipment that are targets for forfeiture.
• Each charged offense carries up to 20 years in prison, with the case being prosecuted by the Eastern District of Michigan and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; the defendants are presumed innocent.