By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Federal agents arrested David Taylor and Michelle Brannon on Wednesday in connection with a multi-million dollar conspiracy. As leaders of the Kingdom of God Global Church, the pair allegedly forced workers to be personal servants while using donations to fund a lavish lifestyle. The church is said to have received around $50 million in donations through call centers, which Taylor and Brannon allegedly used to purchase luxury properties and vehicles. Facing charges of forced labor, conspiracy to commit forced labor, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, Taylor and Brannon could each face up to 20 years in prison.
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Church leaders arrested in a multi-state money laundering, forced labor investigation is a headline that unfortunately doesn’t shock me anymore. The sheer audacity of some of these schemes, the blatant disregard for the law, and the exploitation of vulnerable people, it’s just… gross. Thinking about it, even if you strip away the human trafficking element – and let’s be clear, that makes this situation infinitely worse – the financial manipulation alone is staggering. We’re talking about allegedly scamming people out of $50 million over a decade. And, according to what I’ve read, potentially doing it all within the bounds of what’s considered “legal.” It’s a stark reminder of how easily the system can be manipulated, especially under the guise of “freedom of religion.”
It’s mind-boggling how much of this behavior is tolerated in the US. There’s the hypocrisy too, the idea that these individuals, who likely preach morality and faith, are using religion as a shield for financial gain and alleged criminal activity. The website, or the “storefront” as some called it, feels like a mockery. Seeing such a blatant display of wealth and, presumably, opulence in the hands of these leaders, while their followers may be struggling, it doesn’t sit right. I wonder how much tax they avoided.
The indictment details alleged coercion, the forced transport of women, and the requirement to use emergency contraceptives. The more I read the more I am disappointed. It’s easy to foresee how someone like Trump might try to exploit this for their own benefit. It brings to mind past controversies, like the justification for lavish purchases, such as a Bentley, which happened to be in the news before. Aside from the horrifying accusations of sex trafficking, forced labor, and money laundering, it makes you question everything. It’s a brutal example of how easy it is to abuse the trust placed in religious leaders.
It seems like it’s always the ones you’d expect. It’s a pattern, unfortunately. You see it again and again. Religion, in some instances, appears to be a tool for manipulation and a source of pain, rather than a source of solace and support. I wonder when other similar cases will finally be brought to light, and how many people are still suffering. The fact that one of the locations used for these alleged crimes was a former mansion of a well-known musician adds another layer of absurdity.
The idea of people being imprisoned and forced to work in call centers, soliciting donations under these circumstances… it’s horrific. Then there’s the alleged element of potential child abuse. The thought of that just makes you sick to your stomach. The indictment, the accounts of those who’ve spoken out, it suggests a much larger scope of alleged abuse. It’s chilling.
The countdown to a potential pardon feels inevitable. The invocation of “Christian values” in such a context is just insulting. The fact that religion, with all its supposed moral teachings, could be used to justify such behavior is a paradox. The fact that Trump will likely be involved in the coming months, if not sooner, is all but guaranteed.
The fact that the raid happened so close to home, with such a massive police presence, makes it all the more real. They likely anticipated a struggle, which suggests the individuals were aware of the severity of their alleged crimes. Considering the charges, the sentence should be a long one.
The whole call center scheme sounds like something out of a nightmare. The fact that they may not have to pay income tax while doing this, is infuriating. It’s the people you suspect the most, and it’s the same ones we see again and again. It’s a slap in the face to everyone. The fact that they are able to accumulate so much wealth while exploiting others. Didn’t someone once chase those people out of a temple?
We need to look at this carefully. Taxing churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques. It needs to be addressed. Why shouldn’t they pay taxes? There are people who are willing to exploit the vulnerable more than others. The irony is that the party supposedly rooted in Christian values is perfectly willing to support people like felons, rapists, and pedophiles. The hypocrisy is astounding.
Religion is an extremely easy way to grift. There are so many different layers of deception that you can hide behind. The website is a joke. The testimonials all feel the same. It’s like they didn’t even try to make it look believable. It’s an incredibly disheartening state of affairs.
The actions of church leaders can have significant legal and social consequences. The fact that Washington State has recently passed a law that penalizes church leaders who are aware of sexual assault but don’t report it, and the Catholic Church is actively challenging that law, it seems telling. The fact that people might be exploiting loopholes and using loopholes to get away with things is astounding. Trump, it seems, will be heavily involved in this situation.
You can say anything you want to say and rob people blind. You can set up a church or a “wellness” business. John Hagee is a good example. One way to commit legal fraud, is to start a church. The same is true with L. Ron Hubbard and the scientology jibberish. He wanted to get rich, and the easiest way was to create a religion. It’s a terrible state of affairs.