Kingdom of God Global Church Seeks Return of Seized Assets

Church founder and self-proclaimed apostle David E. Taylor faces criminal charges.

This article was updated on January 30, 2026.

Kingdom of God Global Church in Michigan is asking the U.S. government to return property it seized as part of a criminal action against its founder David E. Taylor.

Kingdom of God Global Church in Taylor, Michigan / Photo via social media

Taylor, a self-proclaimed apostle, and Michelle Brannon, the church’s executive director, are both facing charges related to “their alleged roles in a forced labor and money laundering conspiracy that victimized individuals in Michigan, Florida, Texas, and Missouri.”

Taylor and Brannon allegedly established call centers in Michigan, then later in Florida, Texas, and Missouri, in which they forced their victims to work long hours in the call centers without pay.

The Department of Justice claims they set unobtainable monetary donation goals. If victims failed to reach fundraising goals, they were subjected to “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.”

While Kingdom of God Global Church was taking in millions of dollars in donations and allegedly mistreating its workers, Taylor and Brannon were allegedly using the money to purchase luxury properties, luxury vehicles, and sporting equipment such as a boat, jet skis, and ATVs.

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The church claims the seizure of property has significantly impacted its ability to carry out its functions and pay its expenses.

While acknowledging that Taylor and Brannon were involved in the operations of the church, “the Church continues to minister, hold services, lawfully raise money, do charitable work and operate its business.”

The church claims that even though it is not a defendant in the criminal matter, the federal government has held property without demonstrating that it is subject to forfeiture. The church claims it has records that demonstrate its lawful ownership and possession of the seized property, including logs where it tracks individual donations.

Further, the church argues that the government failed to allege the seized assets were connected to the alleged crimes, especially the Chase Bank accounts held in the Kingdom of God Global Church name.

According to the indictment, $700,000 was involved in the alleged money laundering activity; however, the government seized $4.2 million.

Because it is a church and protected by the First Amendment’s Free Exercise clause, Kingdom of God Global Church argues that seizure of assets infringes on its ability to carry out its religious functions, such as worship, community outreach, and charity.

The federal district court has ordered the United States to respond to the motion for release of seized assets by January 20.

Larry Margolis, an attorney representing Taylor in his criminal case, told the Detroit Free Press that his client fully supports the return of all seized property to the church.

“There is no merit to the charges against (Taylor) as he and the complainants were at all times exercising their First Amendment rights to freely practice their religion,” Margolis said.

Taylor, 53, is being held without bond, and Brannon, 56, was released Sept. 30 on a $10,000 unsecured bond, USA Today reported about court records.

UPDATE:  The government has responded to Taylor’s request to release the ministry’s assets, arguing that its seizure of the assets followed the proper procedures.  The court has not made a final decision about the petition for return of seized property.

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