Federal Charges in Forced Labor Case Linked to Church
A federal grand jury in Michigan has indicted a third individual in connection with a conspiracy for forced labor involving the Kingdom of God Global Church, as announced by the Department of Justice.
Kathleen Klein, referred to as “The Prophetess,” held a leadership role within the church, formerly known as Joshua Media Ministries International. She allegedly played a part in overseeing a multi-state call center operation that prosecutors claim exploited workers and solicited monetary contributions.
Klein, who is 53, along with co-defendants David Taylor and Michelle Brannon, ran call centers across several states, including Michigan, Missouri, Florida, and Texas. Here, victims reportedly endured long working hours without compensation and faced intense pressure to meet demanding fundraising targets, according to the Justice Department.
Prosecutors allege that those who did not comply with or resisted the demands faced a variety of abuses. These included public humiliation, sleep deprivation, physical mistreatment, lack of food and shelter, coerced repentance sessions, and threats of “God’s judgment,” which ranged from illness to eternal damnation.
A superseding indictment issued on February 11 claims the organization has raised roughly $50 million in donations since 2014. Leaders of the church reportedly used these funds for personal expenditures such as real estate, vehicles, flights, and luxury items.
Along with adding Klein to the list of defendants, the new indictment includes allegations that Taylor solicited and received sexually explicit materials from female employees of the church.
Klein is charged with conspiracy to commit forced labor, which could result in a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. Taylor and Brannon were initially indicted in July 2025 on various charges including forced labor and conspiracy to launder money, with similar maximum penalties for their counts.
Assistant Attorney General Andrew Theisen Duva commented that this case highlights the seriousness of forced labor schemes that strip victims of their essential rights and expose them to severe abuse. He emphasized that eradicating human trafficking is a top priority for the Department of Justice, which pledges to pursue those who exploit and profit from such practices.
