TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Two “self-professed religious leaders” had been indicted Wednesday on federal fees alleging the group pressured its members into labor, remoted them and threatened to withhold meals, amongst different alleged abuses.
David Taylor, 53, and Michelle Brannon, 56, had been arrested Wednesday in Durham, North Carolina, and Tampa, Florida, respectively. The indictment identifies them because the leaders of Kingdom of God International Church, previously referred to as Joshua Media Ministries Worldwide.
The indictment included an tackle in Tampa’s prosperous Avila neighborhood, the place the FBI executed a search warrant on Wednesday morning.
David Taylor is seen in a photograph offered by the Durham County Sheriff’s Workplace. (Durham County Sheriff’s Workplace)
Taylor described himself as an “Apostle and Jesus’ best friend,” claiming to have had a number of face-to-face encounters with God, in accordance with the indictment. Brannon was described because the group’s government director.
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The Division of Justice alleged the pair pressured church members to workers name facilities situated in Michigan, Florida, Texas and Missouri, and to function Taylor’s “armor bearers.” They lived on the name facilities or in a “ministry house” and weren’t allowed to go away with out permission.
“Armor bearers were Taylor’s personal servants who fulfilled Taylor’s demands around the clock,” the DOJ wrote in a information launch. “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 decision heart employees had been subjected to lengthy hours with out pay, tasked with “unobtainable” targets for acquiring donations to the church.
“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 DOJ mentioned.
The indictment included an tackle in Tampa’s prosperous Avila neighborhood, the place the FBI executed a search warrant on Wednesday morning. (WFLA)
Taylor and Brannon had been accused of utilizing thousands and thousands of {dollars} in donations annually to fund their lavish way of life, which included shopping for luxurious properties, expensive vehicles, and gadgets like boats, ATVs and jet skis. The indictment mentioned the church has obtained $50 million in donations since 2014.
“For twelve years, Brannon has loyally followed Taylor’s instructions and teachings,” the indictment mentioned. “His teachings include encouraging self-inflicted violence and violence against others, including law enforcement, when and if his organization is confronted by law enforcement.”
Throughout a gathering with employees, Taylor was accused of condoning violence towards federal brokers that will goal 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 mentioned, in accordance with 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 allegedly mentioned. “We are going to watch you burn and the flesh soften off of your bones.”
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Taylor and Brannon had been every charged with conspiracy to commit pressured labor, pressured labor, and cash laundering. If convicted, Taylor and Brannon might face between 20 to 60 years in jail, Nexstar’s WNCN reported.
“Combating human trafficking is a top priority for the Department of Justice,” Assistant Legal professional Basic Harmeet Okay. Dhillon of the Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division was quoted as saying in a Wednesday information launch. “We are committed to relentlessly pursuing and ending this scourge and obtaining justice for the victims.”
