Third Leader — Known as “Prophetess” — Indicted in KOGGC Forced Labor Conspiracy; Prosecutors Say Church Network Collected $50 Million
Taylor, Michigan (Times Media Service) — A federal grand jury in Michigan has indicted Kathleen Klein, 53 and known as “Prophetess,” as the third defendant in a multi-state forced labor conspiracy tied to the Kingdom of God Global Church that allegedly raised about $50 million.
Key takeaways
- Kathleen “Prophetess” Klein was added to a superseding indictment on Feb. 11, 2026, charging her with conspiracy to commit forced labor.
- Prosecutors allege KOGGC leaders ran call centers in Michigan, Missouri, Florida and Texas that coerced unpaid work.
- Allegations include harsh punishments, emotional and physical abuse, and the diversion of roughly $50 million in donations to luxury purchases.
- The defendants face federal counts including forced labor, money laundering and conspiracy; penalties can reach up to 20 years per count.
The defendants and the organization
Federal filings name Kathleen Klein as a leader and executive of the Kingdom of God Global Church (KOGGC), previously known as Joshua Media Ministries International. The superseding indictment adds Klein to charges first brought against David Taylor and Michelle Brannon in July 2025. Prosecutors allege the three ran a network of call centers that solicited donations for the church and coordinated operations across states.
For the Justice Department’s description of the charges, see the DOJ press release. Local reporting on the case and earlier indictments is available via Fox News.
The forced labor operation: allegations from prosecutors
Court documents outline that victims — often described as “missionaries” or “volunteers” — were allegedly required to work long shifts without pay and pressured to meet aggressive fundraising goals. Prosecutors say managers strictly controlled workers’ routines and movements.
- Reported punishments included public humiliation and forced repentance rituals.
- Allegations also include sleep deprivation, physical abuse, and the withholding of food and shelter.
- Prosecutors say leaders used threats of divine judgment — claims of sickness, accidents, death and eternal damnation — to coerce obedience.
The Justice Department characterizes the pattern of control as the hallmark of a coordinated forced labor conspiracy; read the DOJ summary here.
Financial exploitation and spending
Federal prosecutors allege the church operation collected roughly $50 million in donations since 2014. The indictment claims leaders diverted donations to buy homes, vehicles, airline tickets and luxury items such as boats, jet skis and ATVs, rather than for charitable or religious work.
Earlier indictments against Taylor and Brannon included money-laundering counts and schemes to conceal the flow of donation money; read related reporting at Fox13 and the DOJ release here.
Additional disturbing allegations
The superseding indictment expands on allegations related to Taylor’s conduct. Prosecutors say he frequently requested explicit photos and videos from female workers; victims reportedly feared refusing because of the church hierarchy and leaders’ control.
Text messages attributed to Klein in 2024 allegedly directed managers to assign “heavy labor” and included threats. One message quoted in news coverage said, “I want to slap them so hard with a drop-kick.”
News coverage of these allegations appears in local reporting; see Fox News and Fox13 for contemporaneous accounts.
Charges and possible penalties
Klein faces a charge of conspiracy to commit forced labor, carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years if convicted. Taylor and Brannon face multiple counts including forced labor, conspiracy to commit forced labor, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to establish peonage, slavery, involuntary servitude or trafficking. Each count can carry up to 20 years in prison.
Federal prosecutors said their investigation spanned years and multiple states; the Justice Department’s announcement summarizes the investigative work here.
Church response and public reaction
Representatives for the Kingdom of God Church have denied the allegations. Joseph Busch, speaking for the church, said the prosecution “has falsely labeled this church a criminal organization” and called members “volunteer missionaries that preach the gospel.” Supporters held a protest outside the federal courthouse in Detroit after earlier indictments.
Local reporting on the church’s response and the protest is available from Fox2 Detroit. The contrast between religious mission claims and prosecutors’ criminal allegations highlights the legal and factual disputes that courts will resolve.
Reporting and sources
This article draws on the U.S. Department of Justice press release and contemporaneous news reports from Fox News, Fox13 and Fox2 Detroit.
Implications for Paso Robles, California
Local leaders, donors and clergy in Paso Robles should consider practical lessons from the KOGGC case:
- Economic impact: Donors should vet charities and demand clear accounting. High-dollar diversion allegations underscore the need for transparency.
- Political consequences: Officials may face pressure to strengthen oversight of charitable solicitation while balancing religious freedom.
- Social effects: Employers and churches should ensure volunteers aren’t coerced into unpaid work; social services must be ready to assist potential victims.
- Practical steps: Check charity registrations, ask for budgets, clarify volunteer roles and consider outside audits for organizations handling large donations.
Federal prosecutors describe the case as a large-scale pattern of coercion and financial misdirection; Paso Robles stakeholders can use the episode to reaffirm standards that protect religious freedom and worker/donor rights alike.
Reporting by Times Media Service; sources include the U.S. Department of Justice and local media coverage.
