Two Florida church leaders are accused of enslaving employees and forcing them to assist solicit $50 million in donations to fund their lavish way of life of quick vehicles, jet skis and luxurious sea meals.
David Taylor, the chief of Kingdom of God Global Church, was arrested in North Carolina, whereas Michelle Brannon, Taylor’s quantity two, was taken into custody in Florida, in response to the Department of Justice.
Their shiny, beige-colored headquarters in Houston, Texas, had been additionally raided by the FBI and SWAT groups on Wednesday, with officers strolling out 17 individuals, a few of them handcuffed.
An unsealed indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Michigan charged Taylor and Brannon with compelled labor, conspiracy to commit compelled labor and cash laundering conspiracy.
Taylor, who allegedly referred to as himself ‘Apostle’ and ‘Jesus’ greatest good friend’, was accused of working a multi-state name middle operation staffed by unpaid recruits who allegedly advised donors their funds had been going to charitable causes.
The workers weren’t allowed to depart the decision facilities, which had been situated Michigan, Florida, Texas, and Missouri and confronted hunger and psychological abuse in the event that they missed fundraising targets per the indictment.
Others had been compelled by Taylor, 53, and Brannon, 56, to work as Taylor’s ‘armor bearers,’ or his private servants, the DOJ mentioned.
The unpaid armor bearers had been compelled to make meals for Taylor, transport him wherever he needed to go, keep his fleet of vehicles and ship him ladies who needed to take Plan B drugs after, in response to the indictment.
David Taylor (pictured preaching) was arrested this week after being charged with working a compelled labor scheme in a number of states
His right-hand lady, Michelle Brannon, faces the identical compelled labor expenses and was additionally arrested by federal authorities
The alleged slaves had been additionally topic to punishments in the event that they didn’t reside as much as his expectations, per the indictment.
These punishments allegedly included public humiliation, psychological abuse, compelled repentance, sleep deprivation, and bodily assaults.
In one textual content message allegedly despatched by Taylor to one in all his name middle employees, he mentioned, ‘If you do not work you’ll be able to’t eat.’
In an all caps message, Taylor allegedly wrote: ‘POUR WATER ON EVERYONES FACES THAT’S HALFWAY SLEEPING AND NOT WORKING WAKE THEM UP NOW!!’
The indictment claims Taylor gave his alleged victims ‘unobtainable’ promoting quotas to fulfill, similar to elevating $164,000 in a single day.
The grievance identifies eight potential victims and alleges the abuse stemmed again so far as 2009.
Eight potential victims had been recognized as those that Taylor and Brannon had allegedly coaxed into their operation way back to 2009.
Those who labored within the name facilities had been allegedly compelled to chop off their members of the family, hand over any exterior employment and forsake any and all romantic relationships, the indictment mentioned.
Pictured: The early morning raid on the Kingdom of God Global Church’s headquarters in Houston, Texas
Taylor and Brannon allegedly purchased a a Rolls Royce Cullinan, a luxurious SUV that may retail for practically $630,000
The alleged victims had been advised to say that folks’s donations could be spent on charitable works, similar to offering water to poor communities or supporting victims of human trafficking, per the indictment.
Prosecutors say the donations truly went towards shopping for 4 Mercedes Benzes, three Bentleys, and a Rolls Royce Cullinan, a luxurious SUV that may retail for practically $630,000.
Funds additionally allegedly went towards 4 jet skis, two trailers to haul them, and 5 ATVs.
One of essentially the most weird purchases got here in 2021 when Taylor and Brannon allegedly purchased 125 kilos of crab legs for simply over $10,000.
In whole, Taylor obtained roughly $50 million in donations since 2014, in response to the DOJ.
Vincent Escobedo, a person who labored subsequent door to the Houston constructing owned by the church that was raided, spoke to FOX 26 in regards to the ‘cult-like’ conduct he seen over time.
‘They had been guided in all places, couldn’t discuss to anybody, and even needed to be escorted to the restroom. It was simply bizarre stuff,’ Escobedo mentioned.
He additionally believed he noticed one of many alleged punishments of one of many church members occurring proper out within the open.
A person who labored subsequent door to the Houston constructing advised FOX 26 that members of the church had been compelled to mow this huge garden with solely a push mower. He believed that was seemingly one of many punishments that was alleged within the indictment
‘There’d be like one man with only a push mower on the market mowing this huge subject. One man. And it was by no means the identical particular person both. It was at all times completely different individuals,’ he mentioned.
If Taylor and Brannon are convicted, every of the ten expenses they face carry a most sentence of 20 years in jail and fines as nice as $500,000.
Daily Mail has contacted the church and the general public defender assigned to Taylor. Daily Mail wasn’t capable of attain any lawyer presumably representing Brannon.