Kathleen Klein indicted in alleged church forced labor scheme

A federal grand jury in Michigan has indicted a 3rd defendant in an alleged compelled labor conspiracy tied to the Kingdom of God World Church, the Justice Division introduced.

Kathleen Klein, additionally identified reportedly as “Prophetess,” allegedly served as chief and director of the church — previously generally known as Joshua Media Ministries Worldwide — and helped run a multi-state name middle operation that prosecutors say exploited employees to solicit donations.

The Justice Division stated Klein, 53, and co-defendants David Taylor and Michelle Brannon allegedly operated name facilities in Michigan, Missouri, Florida and Texas, the place victims had been compelled to work lengthy hours with out pay and pressured to fulfill aggressive fundraising objectives.

Prosecutors stated employees who failed or resisted had been subjected to public humiliation, sleep deprivation, bodily abuse, withholding of meals and shelter, compelled rituals of repentance and threats of “divine judgment within the type of illness, accidents, loss of life and everlasting damnation.”

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David Taylor and Michelle Brannon are accused of compelled labor and different crimes. Each are accused of forcing folks to work in name facilities to solicit donations for his or her ministries. (Pinellas County Jail)

The superseding indictment, issued Feb. 11, alleges that the group has raised roughly $50 million in donations since 2014, which leaders used to finance private purchases of actual property, autos, airline tickets and luxurious items.

Along with including Klein as a defendant, the superseding indictment incorporates new allegations that Taylor repeatedly requested and acquired sexually specific pictures and movies of feminine church employees.

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Federal brokers have raided a Florida mansion in reference to the fees towards David Taylor and Michelle Brannon. (WTVT)

Klein is charged with conspiracy to commit compelled labor, which carries a most jail sentence of 20 years.

Taylor and Brannon had been first indicted in July 2025 on expenses together with conspiracy to commit compelled labor, compelled labor and conspiracy to commit cash laundering. If convicted, they face 20 years in jail on every cost.

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Kathleen Klein was named because the third defendant in an indictment towards Kingdom of God World Church leaders on February 11, 2026. (joshuamediaministries / KTVT)

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“This case displays the severity of compelled labor schemes that deprive victims of their primary human rights and expose them to bodily and brutal psychological abuse,” Assistant Legal professional Basic Andrew Tysen Duva stated in an announcement. “Preventing human trafficking is a high precedence for the Division of Justice. We’ll relentlessly prosecute those that facilitate and revenue from compelled labor and struggle to acquire justice for survivors.”