David E Taylor, a self-proclaimed prophet and faith healer on the WORD Network has FINALLY been arrested for an elaborate human trafficking and money laundering scheme. Why say “FINALLY”? Taylor’s abusive and deceptive tactics can be traced back at least two decades.
Beginning seven years ago Trinity Foundation sent reports about David E Taylor to the IRS Exempt Organization Division. Our first report was delivered in 2018 when we recommended Taylor’s organizations lose their tax exempt status and again in 2019 in a report titled “Recommendation to File Criminal Charges Against David E. Taylor and Revoke the Tax-Exempt Status of 3 Organizations: Joshua Media Ministries Inc. (JMMI), Kingdom of God Global Church, & Kingdom Family Church)”.
A ten-count indictment was filed July 23rd, 2025 in a Michigan U.S. District Court charging Taylor and his Executive Director Michelle Brannon, Taylor’s enforcer, with “Conspiracy to Commit Forced Labor” and “Money Laundering Conspiracy”.
This was a coordinated investigation by the FBI and the Criminal Investigative Division of the IRS which included raids in Detroit, Houston, and Tampa as well as coordinated efforts in St. Louis and Charlotte. SWAT teams were dispatched to the church’s 28,000 square foot parsonage (includes guest house) in Tampa and to Taylor’s “JMMI” headquarters in Houston which formerly was a 67-room hotel.
Fox news Houston’s report mentioned some people were taken out in handcuffs and others simply walked out. Detroit’s local TV news 4 report mentioned the disturbing allegations in the indictment.
The deeply disturbing allegations in the indictment include severe punishment exacted by Taylor and Brannon when unpaid call center workers did not meet their quota of donation money raised, such as withholding meals, forced fasting, forced diets of peanut butter and jelly, forced labor until 4 am, mandated sleeping in a garage, begging for forgiveness on one’s knees, and physical abuse, etc.
Eight victims were listed as witnesses in the indictment, with names redacted and Trinity Foundation believes more will come forward following these arrests.
The U.S. Department of Justice summarized the indictment in a press release earlier this morning: “Two Self-Professed Religious Leaders Who Used Physical and Psychological Abuse to Coerce Victims to Solicit Tens of Millions in Donations Federally Charged and Arrested”
Our 2019 report stated, “Taylor’s money-raising tactics cross state lines and go all over the US via his internet website, mass emails, the US postal service, and television.”
Trinity Foundation is preparing to launch a document library later this week and we’re calling it the “Vault”, featuring our investigative reports, church and ministry governance documents, financial reports, fraudulent fund-raising letters / mail marketing, and much more. We want people to see with their own eyes the methods corrupt religious leaders employ.