Taylor used the money “to purchase luxury properties, luxury vehicles, and sporting equipment such as a boat, jet skis, and ATVs,” said the DOJ. The indictment lists a number of luxury items the defendants purchased and includes the transaction amount for each one and the purchase date. One line item, purchased Sept. 30, 2021, lists 125 lb. of super colossal red king crab legs, six seafood shears, and 30 crab cutters, all for $10,353.44.
Past Allegations Against David Taylor
The arrest of David Taylor has been a long time coming. A 2019 exposé from the News-Herald of Southgate, Michigan, featured testimony from former members of Taylor’s ministry who accused him of manipulation, abuse, sexual misconduct and of running the ministry as a “cult.”
Chris Sorensen, who said he worked for JMMI for six months in 2017, described working conditions where he rarely got any time off and was expected to send 1,000 Facebook messages daily and meet a $500 daily donation quota. “You might have had one day off a month,” he said. “You’re always sleep deprived.”
Allegations included that ministry leaders cut members off from their families. Gospel singer Vicki Yohe, who was previously in a relationship with Taylor, claimed that he spiritually manipulated women in order to have sex with them. Taylor’s ex-wife, Tabitha Taylor, alleged that Taylor was manipulative and controlling and that he conducted multiple affairs with other women.
Yohe has been posting on Facebook about the news of the recent raids and arrests. “Its about time !!!!” she said in one. “Thank you JESUS!”
Other past allegations against Taylor included that he used his ministry’s money on extravagant personal purchases, including luxury vehicles and a designer wardrobe. In 2022, KOGGC made headlines for purchasing an $8.3 million mansion in Tampa. This property was one of those raided this week.
RELATED: Church of Evangelist David E. Taylor, Who Has Been Accused of Running a Cult, Buys Florida Mansion
The charges of conspiracy to commit forced labor and forced labor each contain a penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. The conspiracy to commit money laundering charge has a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the properties involved in the money laundering transactions.
 and his associate, Michelle Brannon (56), have been indicted by a federal grand jury for 10 counts related to human trafficking and money laundering.){kind=link}