Church leader arraigned in Michigan court on forced labor, money laundering conspiracy charges

DETROIT–Thewomanfacingchargesforherallegedroleinaforcedlaborandmoney-launderingconspiracyacrossmultiplestates,includingMichigan,wasarraignedinfederalcourtonTuesday. MichelleBrannonandDavidTaylorwerearrestedonAug.27,2025,inNorthCarolinaandFloridainwhatfederalofficialscalledanationwidetakedownoftheirallegedforcedlabororganization. AccordingtotheUnitedStatesAttorney’sOfficeoftheEasternDistrictofMichigan,Taylor,whoreferstohimselfas“Apostle,”andBrannon,hisexecutivedirector,aretheleadersofKingdomofGodGlobalChurch,formerlyJoshuaMediaMinistriesInternational.ThetwoareaccusedofvictimizingpeopleworkingatcallcentersthatsoliciteddonationsfortheirorganizationinMichigan,Florida,TexasandMissouri. CourtdocumentsclaimthatTaylorreferstohimselfasanApostleand“Jesus’bestfriend.”Hereportedlyclaimedtohavehadmultipleface-to-faceencounterswithGodandthatGodhadgivenhimthekeystotheKingdomonEarth. Accordingtocourt