DISTURBING details have come to light about church leaders who ‘kept and abused slaves for over a decade.’
Newly released court documents give an inside look into the shocking operation being conducted in the basement of a mansion in Tampa.
David Taylor is one of the church leaders suspected to be involved in the operation[/caption]
Michelle Brannon is another church leader suspected to be involved in the operation[/caption]
The documents claim that 57 people, including minors, were forced to work for free in nightmare conditions.
The slaves were subjected to food and sleep deprivation, threats, and physical abuse, Fox affiliate WTVT reported.
The victims were forced to sleep on the floors and lived in either the garage or small rooms with barely any access to bathrooms, court documents state.
Church leaders Michelle Brannon, 56, and David Taylor, 53, are suspected of being the leaders of the operation.
Brannon and Taylor are both leaders at the Kingdom of God Global Church, formerly known as Joshua Media Ministries, where they allegedly forced parishioners to work nonstop in church call centers.
The parishioners were forced to solicit donations for over a decade, resulting in a total of $50 million in donations, according to court documents.
Former church employees have come out to describe the alleged abuse the workers suffered under the reign of Brannon and Taylor.
“I did see David Taylor get aggressive with the staff,” said Leslie Portillo, who lived at the church ministry in Detroit, told WTVT.
“They’re not using the money for good; they’re using it to fund their very lavish lifestyle.”
Portillo separated from the church after she claimed to see other disturbing sights, but her friend continued to work for Taylor.
“They’re not getting paid for anything,” Portillo added.
The former church employee claimed that her friend died of cancer and never got to see her family, as she was restricted from talking to the outside world.
“The family members have been waiting for so many years for their family member, for their loved one to come back,” Portillo said.
“Unfortunately, too many people were hurt in the midst of all of this.
The duo were arrested and charged on 10 counts of forced labor and money laundering[/caption]
Taylor was a leader at the Kingdom of God Global Church[/caption]
“I know it’s going to be a process, but I know we are going to find out the truth.”
Court documents reported that an “estimated $500,000 in gold bars; $60,000 in cash; valuable jewelry from a locked safe in a closet; designer clothing and purses; and foreign currency” were found in Brannon’s bedroom.
Investigators also found multiple stone statues and decorative pillars on the ground.
Several expensive cars, including seven Mercedes-Benz and two Bentley sedans, were also found on the property, authorities reported.
Investigators also found a text allegedly sent by Brannon to church employees in which she ordered harsh consequences for those who don’t meet call quotas.
“Did you rebuke him for this,” she allegedly wrote.
“He needs to be raked over the coals for this?? He can die for this.”
Taylor and Brannon now face a 10-count indictment on forced labor and money laundering charges in Michigan, where the church’s headquarters is located.
