The Brief
- The U.S. Department of Justice says federal agents arrested David Taylor and Michelle Brannon in separate raids on Wednesday.
- Investigators say the pair led the Kingdom of God Global Church and forced workers to be personal servants while using millions of dollars in donations to fund a lavish lifestyle.
- Taylor and Brannon face charges of forced labor, conspiracy to commit forced labor, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
TAMPA, Fla. – Two church leaders have been arrested in an alleged multi-million-dollar conspiracy after multiple FBI raids across the country on Wednesday morning, including one in Hillsborough County’s exclusive Avila neighborhood.
Arrests of Michelle Brannon and David Taylor
What we know:
The U.S. Department of Justice says Michelle Brannon, 56, was arrested at a mansion near Tampa, while David Taylor, 53, was arrested in North Carolina.
According to the DOJ, Taylor and Brannon are the leaders of Kingdom of God Global Church, formerly known as Joshua Media Ministries International (JMMI). Taylor refers to himself as “Apostle” and to Brannon as his Executive Director.
A 10-count indictment alleges that Taylor and Brannon ran call centers in Florida, Texas, Missouri, and Michigan to solicit donations to the church.…