Two American Pastors Face Charges in $50m Human Trafficking and Fraud Scandal

                                                FBI

Two prominent church leaders in the United States have been taken into federal custody in connection with what authorities describe as a sprawling multi-million-dollar conspiracy involving human trafficking, forced labor, and money laundering. Their arrests followed a series of nationwide raids on Wednesday, with law enforcement agents executing search warrants across multiple states, including Florida, North Carolina, and Texas.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the two individuals have been identified as fifty-six-year-old Michelle Brannon and fifty-three-year-old David Taylor. Investigators allege the pair were at the center of a long-running scheme that exploited church followers and misused millions of dollars in donations. The ministry at the heart of the case is the Kingdom of God Global Church, previously known as Joshua Media Ministries International. Federal prosecutors said Taylor referred to himself as “Apostle,” while Brannon acted as his executive director.

Brannon was arrested on Wednesday morning at a mansion in Hillsborough County, Florida, located in the wealthy Avila neighborhood. Property documents indicate that the residence was owned by the church itself. Around the same time, Taylor was taken into custody in North Carolina. FBI SWAT agents also stormed a hotel in Houston linked to the ministry’s operations, while simultaneous raids occurred at several other church-associated properties across the country. A federal grand jury in Michigan returned a ten-count indictment accusing both defendants of a range of crimes that include conspiracy, forced labor, human trafficking, and money laundering.

The indictment alleges that Brannon and Taylor operated call centers in Florida, Missouri, Texas, and Michigan. These call centers, according to prosecutors, were used not only to solicit donations but also to trap vulnerable followers into working long hours under abusive conditions. Victims were allegedly persuaded that their work was a spiritual duty, but in reality, they were forced into unpaid labor. Federal investigators claim many of these individuals lived inside the call centers or in housing controlled by the ministry and were not allowed to leave without permission. Victims were also recruited to serve as personal attendants for Taylor, known in the church as “armour bearers,” who were expected to perform household and personal tasks without compensation.

Court documents further allege that women were transported to Taylor by church members, and victims were instructed to ensure that those women took emergency contraceptives afterward. The Department of Justice estimates that the organization raised about fifty million dollars in donations since 2014, most of which was diverted into personal luxuries rather than charitable or religious purposes. Authorities say that the defendants used the money to acquire mansions, expensive vehicles, boats, jet skis, and recreational equipment, presenting a lavish lifestyle that contrasted starkly with the conditions imposed on their followers.

If convicted, the penalties facing the two church leaders are severe. The charges of forced labor and conspiracy to commit forced labor each carry a potential maximum of twenty years in federal prison along with fines of up to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The conspiracy to commit money laundering charge carries a similar prison sentence, along with fines that could reach five hundred thousand dollars or twice the value of the assets involved in the laundering transactions.

Federal officials highlighted the scope of the operation during their statements. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division said that the department remains committed to eradicating human trafficking and bringing justice to victims. He stressed that combating labor exploitation carried out under the pretense of religious authority was a top priority. U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan praised the collaborative work of multiple federal agencies and emphasized that such large-scale cases could only succeed through coordinated efforts across states.

The FBI also issued a strong response, describing the alleged conduct as shocking. Acting Special Agent in Charge Reuben Coleman of the Detroit Field Office credited the operation’s success to support from FBI offices in Tampa, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Houston, and St. Louis, as well as the IRS Criminal Investigation Division and numerous state and local partners. Coleman said the bureau would continue to investigate and pursue those who engage in exploitation and fraud, no matter the disguise they use. IRS Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd added that money laundering in this case funded a trafficking scheme while being concealed as ministry activity. She reiterated that the IRS-CI is committed to identifying and dismantling networks that enrich themselves through the abuse of vulnerable individuals.

In a Tampa courtroom later that afternoon, Brannon appeared before a federal judge, though her representation immediately came into question. She informed the court that she had retained private attorneys based in St. Louis and Oklahoma, but prosecutors told the judge that neither attorney could be reached through the contact information provided. The judge postponed the hearing until Thursday and instructed Brannon to obtain local legal counsel in Tampa before proceedings could continue. It remains unclear whether she has secured adequate representation at this stage. Taylor, arrested in North Carolina, is also expected to face court in the coming days.

The case has sparked significant attention, not only because of the large sums of money involved but also because it exposes how religious organizations can sometimes be used as a front for manipulation and exploitation. Advocates for human trafficking victims say such schemes are difficult to uncover because victims are often persuaded that their sacrifices are spiritually necessary, making them less likely to recognize exploitation or seek help. By the time authorities intervene, victims may have endured years of abuse under the illusion that they were serving a higher cause.

Federal officials made it clear that their investigation is ongoing and more charges could follow as evidence is reviewed. The arrests of Brannon and Taylor represent a major step in dismantling what authorities say was a deeply exploitative network built under the cover of faith. If the allegations are proven, the case will serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked authority in religious institutions and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable individuals from manipulation. For now, both defendants remain in custody, each facing decades behind bars if convicted of the crimes laid out in the indictment.