TAMPA, Fla. - A church leader charged in a $50 million money laundering and forced labor scheme that investigators say spanned several states is expected in a federal courtroom in Tampa on Thursday.
Michelle Brannon, 56, was arrested at a mansion in Hillsborough County's exclusive Avila neighborhood on Wednesday morning.
Kingdom of God Global Church investigation
The backstory:
The U.S. Department of Justice says Brannon, along with David Taylor, 53, led Kingdom of God Global Church, formerly known as Joshua Media Ministries International (JMMI).
A 10-count indictment alleges that Taylor and Brannon ran call centers in Florida , Texas, Missouri, and Michigan to solicit donations to the church.
The pair convinced their victims to work at the call centers and work for Taylor