The FBI arrested one of two suspects who claim to be religious leaders and are allegedly tied to a human trafficking ring in a raid in Durham Wednesday morning.
According to a spokesperson for the agency, David Taylor, 53, of Durham, is being charged in a conspiracy to commit forced labor and money laundering, which authorities claim harmed people in Michigan, Florida, Texas, and Missouri.
Taylor and Michelle Brannon, 56, of Tampa, Florida, were both leaders of Kingdom of God Global Church, previously Joshua Media Ministries International, according to the indictment.
According to the indictment, the church received $50 million through its call center since 2014.
“Taylor and Brannon required victims to work in the call centers long hours without pay or perform other services for Taylor,” according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. “If victims disobeyed an order or failed to reach his monetary goals, Taylor and Brannon punished the victims with 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.”
The indictment also stated that Taylor and Brannon spent the majority of the donated funds on luxury residences, vehicles, and athletic equipment. According to the indictment, the things acquired included multiple Mercedes Benzes, bulletproof material for their vehicles, and five ATVs.
According to the indictment, the workers sometimes slept in the call centers while working as “Armor Bearers,” and Taylor had his Armor Bearers “transport women from ministry houses, airports, and other locations to Taylor’s location and ensure the women transported to Taylor took Plan B emergency contraceptives.”
“Combating human trafficking is a top priority for the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We are committed to relentlessly pursuing and ending this scourge and obtaining justice for the victims.”
The IRS and the Durham Police Department helped with the investigation.
“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 Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “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.”
Michelle Brannon was arrested in Tampa, Florida, and WFLA covered it. Brannon was introduced as the organization’s executive director.
“For twelve years, Brannon has loyally followed Taylor’s instructions and teachings,” the indictment said. “His teachings include encouraging self-inflicted violence and violence against others, including law enforcement, when and if his organization is confronted by law enforcement.”
Taylor and Brannon could face a prison sentence ranging from 20 to 60 years.