Church leaders seek dismissal and release in Michigan forced-labor case

Defense attorneys for David Taylor and Michelle Brannon asked a federal judge to dismiss an indictment accusing leaders of using church-run call centers to obtain unpaid labor and raise millions of dollars. Taylor also asked the court to reopen his detention hearing or hold a new bond hearing, arguing that newly produced evidence weakens the case for keeping him jailed before trial.

Prosecutors oppose a new detention hearing and say the case includes more than 45 terabytes of evidence. They have agreed to extend the pretrial-motions deadline and move the trial to February 2027 or later, citing the volume of documents, recordings, surveillance video and electronic evidence still under review.

Taylor and Brannon argue the prosecution improperly relies on religious teachings and fails to allege conduct that meets the federal forced-labor statute. Prosecutors allege the organization operated unpaid donation-solicitation call centers in Michigan and other states, where workers faced long hours, deprivation and abuse, and that it collected about $50 million during the alleged conspiracy.

Read the full story at clickondetroit.com.