TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Federal and state authorities across the country have begun raids of properties connected to the Kingdom of God Global Church, formerly known as Joshua Media Ministries.
The church’s leaders — David Taylor, 53, and Michelle Branon, 56 — were indicted Wednesday on allegations of using forced labor to solicit millions of dollars of donations.
Who is David Taylor?
According to the Department of Justice, Taylor is a self-proclaimed “apostle” who runs the Kingdom of God Global Church, with Brannon as his executive director.
The Kingdom of God website says Taylor claimed to have a face-to-face encounter with Jesus Christ, who appeared to him in a dream while Taylor “lived a worldly lifestyle” at 17 years old.
Taylor claimed that these dreams happened multiple times as the years went by, which led him to become a minister. Part of the ministry’s work appears to be involved dream interpretation.
Over the years, Taylor claimed God gave him “keys to the Kingdom of Heaven” in 1997, a reference to the biblical moment when Jesus confers authority onto St. Peter.
A DOJ indictment said Taylor also called himself “Jesus’ best friend.”
“With these Keys, Jesus sends David E. Taylor into regions with His authority to decree, declare, and break the rule of demonic kings, princes, and strongholds, and to bring the Kingdom and move of God!” the Kingdom of God website states.
The church claimed that Taylor’s presence and prophecies were connected to drug busts, sex trafficking busts, and even the future reunification of North and South Korea.
The website also stated that Taylor had connections to Hollywood, having mentored actors Tyler Johnson and Richard T. Jones.
“Richard T. Jones was given wisdom fom [sic] his mentor David E. Taylor and recieved [sic] a major role First Time in Years!” a line from the website said.
Allegations of abuse and money laundering
Prior to David Taylor’s indictment, he was accused of misusing funds by a man named Rick Frazier, although Taylor and his ministry dismissed the claims as allegations from a racist man.
However, the Department of Justice said investigators found that Kingdom of God Global Church was, in fact, a perpetrator of a large human trafficking operation that spanned multiple states like Michigan, Florida, Texas and Missouri.
According to the indictment, Taylor and Bannon established call centers in these states operated by people called “armor bearers.”
“Armor bearers were Taylors’s personal servants who fulfilled Taylor’s demands around the clock,” the DOJ release said. “Taylor and Brannon controlled every aspect of the daily living of their victims. Victims slept in the call center facility or in a ‘ministry’ house, and Taylor and Brannon did not permit them to leave without permission. Taylor demanded that his Armor Bearers transport women from ministry houses, airports, and other locations to Taylor’s location and ensured the women transported to Taylor took Plan B emergency contraceptives.”
The release stated these people would work at these call centers or perform other services for Taylor without pay for long hours.
Federal prosecutors said if the workers did not meet Taylor’s “unattainable” donation goals, they would suffer “public humiliation, additional work, food and shelter restrictions, psychological abuse, forced repentance, sleep deprivation, physical assaults, and threats of divine judgment in the form of sickness, accidents, and eternal damnation.”
As an example, the indictment recounted a text sent on May 5, 2021, in which Taylor wrote that his staff had to raise $164,000 that day or “we will mess with the food” for every hour they fell behind. Sometimes the workers were forced to undergo a “21 day peanut butter and jelly regiment” or eat only soup, bread, and water as punishments.
The indictment said on May 27, 2022, Taylor texted, “7 of the top closers need to go in the garage in tampa now !! .. Also I want food taken away.”
Numerous other texts found in the indictment contained details of Taylor issuing punishments to the “armor bearers” like pouring water in their faces while they sleep, taking away their beds, and even taking them to homeless shelters if they were not doing their work.
Another location in Ocala was also mentioned.
According to the Department of Justice, Kingdom of God Global Church/Joshua Media Ministries International got $50 million in donations from these call centers since 2014.
Prosecutors said Brannon and Taylor would then take these charitable donations and spend them on luxury properties and vehicles, boats, ATVS, and jet skis.
“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,” said Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of IRS Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office. “IRS-CI stands committed to fighting human trafficking and labor exploitation, and pursuing those who hide their profits gained from the extreme victimization of the vulnerable.”
In addition to the threats of violence toward his workers, federal prosecutors said Brannon also told his workers that he would condone violence against federal authorities who target the church.
“God’s gonna to get you. And I am going to make sure he do, too. I am going to make sure I speed it up,” Taylor said, according to the indictment. “I’m going to be looking at you in Hell and you are going to be having your little FBI jacket on. Who gonna save you then?”
“I have been given power by the only one who counts,” Taylor said. “We will watch you burn and the flesh melt off of your bones.”
Taylor and Brannon were indicted on the following charges:
- Conspiracy to Commit Forced Labor: up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000.
- Forced Labor: up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000.
- Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering: up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $500,000 or twice the value of the properties involved in the money laundering transactions.
Taylor appeared on the indictment in Durham, North Carolina. Brannon is set to appear in Tampa.
“We will use every lawful tool against human traffickers and seek justice for their victims,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan. “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.”