Imagine a “ministry” demanding millions while exploiting vulnerable people as free labor. The FBI just busted a shocking $50 million human trafficking and money laundering operation disguised as a church. Victims were forced into call centers, under threat, to fund a lavish lifestyle. How far would someone go to maintain such a deceitful empire?
A shocking federal indictment has unveiled a sophisticated $50 million forced labor and money laundering operation, cunningly disguised as a religious ministry, masterminded by self-proclaimed “Apostle” David Taylor and his alleged accomplice Michelle Brannon. This elaborate scheme, which spanned multiple states including Michigan, Florida, Texas, and Missouri, exploited vulnerable individuals under the guise of spiritual devotion, forcing them into grueling work for no pay while funding a lavish lifestyle for its orchestrators.
Victims, derogatorily labeled “Armor Bearers,” were coerced into working relentlessly in call centers, where they were tasked with soliciting millions in donations for the phony ministry. These individuals faced constant threats of punishment and severe religious condemnation if they failed to meet demanding quotas. The coercive environment stripped them of their autonomy, turning spiritual seeking into a horrifying ordeal of victim exploitation and forced labor.
David Taylor, who grandiosely referred to himself as “Jesus’ best friend,” cultivated an image of spiritual authority while allegedly presiding over a vast criminal enterprise. Court records depict his decade-long reign of manipulation and opulence, financed entirely by the unremitting efforts of those he enslaved. His fall from grace came swiftly with the FBI’s meticulous investigation into the fraudulent operation.
The unsealing of the grand jury indictment in U.S. District Court in Detroit marked a pivotal moment in the case, formally charging Taylor and Brannon. The charges detail a systematic pattern of forced labor and extensive money laundering, revealing the true scope of their alleged crimes against individuals ensnared in their deceitful web across the targeted states.
Taylor’s modus operandi involved recruiting individuals nationwide, setting arbitrary and often impossible donation goals for the call center workers. These “Armor Bearers” were instructed to feign collection for various charitable causes, including clean drinking water and support for human trafficking victims, creating a deeply cynical layer of deception where actual human trafficking victims were unknowingly soliciting funds under false pretenses.
Further disturbing allegations within the indictment include Taylor’s inexplicable demands for his “Armor Bearers” to transport women and ensure they took Plan B emergency contraceptives. Concurrently, prosecutors allege the scheme also involved compelling victims to apply for government EBT cards, feign homelessness, and use these public assistance benefits to purchase food for the ministry staff, highlighting a ruthless exploitation of social welfare programs.
The level of control exerted over the victims was absolute; they were confined to call center facilities or designated “ministry” houses and strictly forbidden from leaving without permission. Text messages from Taylor revealed a chilling pattern of intimidation, featuring severe threats like “You’ll have to raise $164K today!! Each hour you fall behind consequences will start,” and even racial slurs directed at those who failed to meet their exploitative targets.
Since its inception in 2014, the illicit operation, known initially as Joshua Media Ministries International and later as the Kingdom of God Global Church, amassed an staggering $50 million. Karen Wingerd, Detroit’s IRS chief, underscored the gravity of the financial crimes, stating, “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,” vowing vigorous pursuit of those profiting from such extreme victimization.
