Two church leaders in the US were arrested in an alleged multimillion-dollar conspiracy during various Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raids across the country on Wednesday, including one in Hillsborough County’s elite Avila neighbourhood.
Michelle Brannon, 56, was detained at a house near Tampa, while David Taylor, 53, was arrested in North Carolina on charges of multi-million-dollar money laundering, forced labour, and human trafficking, according to a statement released on Wednesday through the US Department of Justice’s website.
Taylor and Brannon are the leaders of Kingdom of God Global Church, which was previously known as Joshua Media Ministries International, according to the Department of Justice.
The Justice Department stated that Taylor referred to himself as “Apostle” and Brannon as his Executive Director.
According to property records, the church owns 706 Guisando De Avila in Hillsborough County, where Brannon was detained early Wednesday by FBI agents.
Investigators arrested Taylor in North Carolina on Wednesday morning, while SWAT and FBI investigators searched a church-owned hotel in Houston.
According to the 10-count indictment, Taylor and Brannon managed call centres in Florida, Texas, Missouri, and Michigan to seek church donations.
According to the accusation, the couple persuaded their victims to work in the contact centres and for Taylor as personal slaves – known as “armour bearers” – for long periods of time without pay.
According to federal authorities, Taylor and Brannon “controlled every aspect of the daily living of their victims,” who slept at the call centre or in a “ministry” house and were not allowed to leave without permission.
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According to the indictment, the accused forced the victims to drive women to Taylor and ensured that they used Plan B emergency contraceptives.
According to the DOJ, the church has earned over $50 million in donations through its call centres since 2014.
Taylor and Brannon are accused of spending a large portion of that money on luxury residences, vehicles, and athletic equipment like boats, jet skis, and ATVs.
Taylor and Brannon are charged with forced labour, conspiracy to commit forced labour, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Each alleged felony has a maximum punishment of 20 years in federal prison.
A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Michigan returned a 10-count indictment against two defendants for allegedly participating in a forced labour and money laundering scheme that victimised people in Michigan, Florida, Texas, and Missouri.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division stated that the two defendants were detained in North Carolina and Florida as part of a nationwide operation to dismantle their forced labour organisation.
“Combating human trafficking is a top priority for the Department of Justice.
“We are committed to relentlessly pursuing and ending this scourge and obtaining justice for the victims,” he said.
Also speaking, U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr for the Eastern District of Michigan stated, “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.”
“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. I want to thank the members of the FBI Detroit Field Office, with strong support from our federal and agency partners in the FBI Tampa Field Office, FBI Jacksonville Field Office, FBI St. Louis Field Office, FBI Charlotte Field Office, FBI Houston Field Office, and the Detroit IRS-CI Field Office, in addition to several local, county and state law enforcement partners, for their role in executing this multi-state operation.
“The FBI in Michigan will continue to investigate those who violate federal law and remain focused on ensuring the protection and safety of our nation,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Reuben Coleman of the FBI Detroit Field Office.
“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 victimisation of the vulnerable,” said Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of IRS Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office.
According to the DOJ, conspiracy to commit forced labour is punishable by up to 20 years in jail and a fine of up to $250,000. Forced labour is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
It stated that conspiracy to commit money laundering entails a 20-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the value of the properties engaged in the money laundering operations.
Brannon appeared in federal court in Tampa on Wednesday afternoon, but his attorney was not there.
A judge enquired as to where her attorney was and whether she had legal assistance.
Brannon informed the judge that she had two private solicitors from St Louis and Oklahoma who were already working with them.
However, she claimed she had not heard from one of them.
The judge stated that the attorneys could not be reached using the phone lines provided to federal prosecutors.
It’s unclear whether Brannon has legal representation at this time.
The judge moved Brannon’s hearing until Thursday afternoon.
