AT A GLANCE Federal raids targeted Kingdom of God Global Church properties in Michigan, Texas and Florida, with church officials alleging more than $133,000 in property damage. The FBI and IRS seized over $4.2 million in cash, gold, jewelry, vehicles and cryptocurrency, prompting a federal court fight over return of the assets. Church leaders, including David Taylor, face forced labor and money laundering conspiracy charges, with prosecutors alleging workers raised $50 million for leaders’ luxury purchases. The church claims the seizures are crippling operations, forcing cuts to charitable programs and jeopardizing its $8.6 million Tampa mansion, while prosecutors argue the assets are evidence in a pending criminal case. Federal agents ravaged Kingdom of God Global Church properties in Michigan and two other states, smashing doors, breaking equipment, destroying security cameras, and causing more than $133,000 in damages while prosecutors have put such a stranglehold on finances that the church is struggling to maintain operations, the religious group's lawyers said. Federal court records describe the fallout from a high-profile probe involving FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents and a fight with the federal government over more than $4.2 million, jewelry, gold coins, silver and foreign currency seized by investigators. Church lawyers are trying to force the government to return the money and assets seized amid an investigation into allegations that church leaders forced workers to raise approximately $50 million and blew the money on mansions, exotic vehicles and other luxuries. Since a series of federal raids, the church is planning to curtail charitable giving and is facing the prospect of losing its $8.6 million mansion in Tampa, Florida, a 28,000-square-foot estate where 25 workers live and train. The church has virtually stopped providing medical care for about 75 pastors, student ministers and volunteers and defaulted on the Tampa mortgage amid a broader financial crisis that threatens to prevent leaders from fulfilling the Kingdom of God Global Church's religious mandate, the group's lawyer argued. "The church cannot function if it cannot pay to support its students and pastors, or for its physical properties," Kingdom of God Global Church lawyer Jorin Rubin wrote in a petition filed with U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Berg. The impact of losing that money has been compounded, church officials said, by the trail of destruction left by FBI agents during the August raids at church properties in Taylor, Texas and Florida. The legal battle also raises questions about whether a church, which has not been charged with a crime, should be endangered because of alleged wrongdoing by its leaders. "Here, the government’s seizure of the church’s assets substantially burdens its religious exercise by preventing or impeding worship services, limiting religious education programs, restricting charitable and community outreach activities, and impeding other faith-based activities central to the church's mission," Rubin wrote. The money fight sheds light on a high-profile investigation and complex criminal case that has portrayed the church as a cult and leader David Taylor as a violent and dangerous sextortionist who coerced women, mostly parishioners, into sending him 50,000 sexually explicit images. The August raids and asset seizures unfolded across the church's sprawling real estate empire. The church owns mansions, homes, a hotel and commercial buildings across at least four states, including Michigan. Damages listed FBI agents raided several properties in August and left a costly reminder that the church documented in a list filed in federal court. • At the Taylor church, federal agents caused more than $40,000 damage by breaking doors, breaking drywall and smashing the security system, church director Kearisten Jones wrote in a declaration filed in court. • Investigators destroyed more doors at a former hotel in Houston owned by the church. Investigators broke fire and pool gates, ruined an irrigation system and damaged 12 air conditioners during the raid. Damages exceeded $57,000, Jones wrote. • At the Tampa mansion, which previously belonged to the co-owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, agents broke a sliding glass door and a gate, damaged the elevator and trashed rooms. In all, approximately $20,300 worth of damage. •  At a church-owned home in Ocala, Florida, agents caused more than $11,000 worth of damage, including shooting the 12-foot front door off its hinges and breaking a security system. "... During the raid, the FBI broke open my safe and took my personal belongings, including my passport, Social Security card, birth certificate, my personal phones and gifts I have received throughout my years of service to Jesus," Jones wrote. Prosecutors are fighting the return of any seized money or assets, including five vehicles, a Bitcoin wallet and a boat. Feds resist return of seizures The church's request to recoup the assets is premature, considering there have not been any convictions in the case, prosecutors argued. Criminal charges are pending against three people. Taylor and former Northville resident Michelle Brannon, the second-highest-ranking leader of the church, are charged in a 10-count indictment with conspiracy to commit forced labor, forced labor and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison for each charge, as well as fines of hundreds of thousands of dollars. A third Kingdom of God Global Church leader, 53-year-old Riverview resident Kathleen Klein, was charged in mid-February for her role in the alleged forced labor conspiracy. Prosecutors said Klein, who is known as "Prophetess," served as an enforcer, punishing workers for failing to raise money and threatening eternal damnation. Klein is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit forced labor, a felony with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. "The extravagant purchases made by Taylor and Brannon — including gold, jewelry, and luxury goods — are evidence in the criminal case and must be preserved while the case is pending," Assistant U.S. Attorney Adriana Dydell wrote in opposing the church. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment about the allegations involving property damage. Taylor and Brannon headed a church with Michigan operations based in a commercial building near Interstate 75 and Northline Road in Taylor. The ministry’s website invites people to donate to help the church bring "the lifesaving and miracle-working power of Jesus Christ to the world through broadcasts, mission outreaches, and worldwide crusades.” The money fight emerged in late December. That is when the church sued to recoup seized assets. "... The continued retention of the church’s assets is causing substantial hardship to a legitimate business’ operation,” Rubin wrote. "... The seizure implicates heightened constitutional and statutory protections under the First Amendment and Religious Freedom Restoration Act, requiring the government to demonstrate a compelling interest and least restrictive means before continuing to burden the church’s religious exercise through retention of its assets as well as the disruption of its members’ ability to freely practice their chosen religion." What federal agents found The church's riches were obvious at the Tampa mansion. When investigators raided the mansion in late August, they found $500,000 worth of gold bars in a locked safe and $60,000 in a closet in a bedroom belonging to Brannon, Taylor's top lieutenant. They also found expensive designer clothing and purses, jewelry, foreign currency, seven Mercedes-Benz vehicles, and two Bentley sedans. Brannon is portrayed as the queen of the church who slept in a room with a crown above the bed. She also served as one of the group's enforcers, according to the government, teaming with Taylor to create a climate of fear through psychological manipulation and violence. Her lawyer, John Rogers, has criticized the government's "thin case," saying there was no evidence people were beaten. He disputed the government's description of church members being held hostage, noting several members of the church have appeared in court to support Brannon, and said members were free to come and go from the group's churches and living quarters. The properties are used for church gatherings, religious services, volunteer operations, administration, housing and boarding members, and providing space for missionaries. "Since the seizure of the church's funds, the amenities available to the individuals living in the church's housing has been reduced," church bookkeeper Jessica Cross wrote in a court affidavit. "The church still provides housing, but the food budget has shrunk and the availability of funds for extra services, such as medical care, have been virtually eliminated." The cost of releasing the seized assets to the church while charges are pending against the trio would be "extremely high," wrote Dydell, the prosecutor. "Specifically, the government would be unable to prevent the spending of the assets acquired by Taylor and Brannon’s forced labor, and (the church) would be able to freely dissipate the assets acquired by criminal activity," Dydell wrote.  This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: “FBI ransacks mansions, Michigan property tied to church, leaders say”

AT A GLANCE U.S. District Judge Richard Leon declined to block Trump's White House ballroom construction on Feb. 26. The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued to stop the project citing lack of congressional authorization and environmental review. The Trump administration argues the project aligns with presidential renovation practices and uses private funding. A federal judge on Feb. 26 declined to block President Donald Trump from proceeding with construction of a $400 million White House ballroom to replace the demolished East Wing, finding that a challenge from preservationists did not meet the high bar for a preliminary injunction that would halt the project for now. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon's ruling came in a lawsuit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation aiming to stop construction until the White House complies with federal law and rules including congressional authorization. The National Trust had sought a preliminary injunction to freeze the work on the ballroom, planned to be 90,000 square feet (8,360 square meters), while the private nonprofit group's lawsuit proceeds. The Trump administration has argued that the project is consistent with established presidential renovation practices and serves the public interest. Leon, in his ruling, said he could not issue an injunction based on the specific arguments the National Trust made, but he said the group could amend its complaint to reassert its claims that Trump is acting beyond his authority. "Unfortunately, because both sides initially focused on the President's constitutional authority to destruct and construct the East Wing of the White House, Plaintiff didn't bring the necessary cause of action to test the statutory authority the President claims is the basis to do this construction project without the blessing of Congress and with private funds," Leon wrote in his ruling. Trump in a post on his Truth Social platform called the decision "Great news for America, and our wonderful White House!" He said the ballroom "will stand long into the future as a symbol to the Greatness of America!" National Trust President Carol Quillen in a statement said the organization was disappointed Leon did not issue an injunction but "pleased that he encouraged us to amend our complaint — specifically, to assert that the President has acted beyond his statutory authority — and we plan to do so promptly." MAJOR WHITE HOUSE RENOVATIONS The National Trust sued Trump and several federal agencies in December, arguing that the project moved ahead unlawfully without required approvals, environmental review or authorization by Congress. Trump's demolition of the East Wing building, a part of the White House complex originally built in 1902 during Theodore Roosevelt's presidency and greatly expanded in 1942 during Franklin Roosevelt's presidency, was carried out in October. Construction equipment tore down the structure, which had housed the first lady's offices, a theater and a visitors' entrance that welcomed foreign dignitaries. The ballroom project is one of several major changes Trump has made to the White House since returning to office in January 2025. Trump has added gold accents throughout the Oval Office and converted the Rose Garden lawn into a paved patio resembling one at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. The National Trust argued that federal law bars construction on federal parkland in Washington without the express authority of Congress. It also argued the National Park Service violated federal law by issuing an environmental assessment instead of a full impact statement, and by releasing it after demolition had begun. "No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever - not President Trump, not President Biden, and not anyone else," the lawsuit said. The administration has defended the legality of the project, arguing it follows a long line of presidential renovations. It said in a court filing that the ballroom is needed for state functions, its design is still evolving and above-ground construction is not planned until April, making an injunction unnecessary. Last week, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved Trump’s ballroom proposal. The panel, whose commissioners were appointed by Trump in January, advanced the project on a unanimous 6-0 vote. Trump's swift demolition of the East Wing drew scorn from preservationists and other critics, who saw the project as an extension of the Republican president's claims of expansive presidential powers. Trump has defended the project, asserting in a post on his Truth Social platform that his use of private donations for the project means "ZERO taxpayer funding." Trump called the planned ballroom a "desperately needed space." No firm completion date has been given but the White House said it will be "long before the end" of Trump's term.

New York's attorney general sued Valve, a video game developer whose franchises include Counter-Strike, Team Fortress and Dota, accusing it of promoting illegal gambling and threatening to addict children through its use of "loot boxes." In a complaint filed on Feb. 25 in a state court in Manhattan, Attorney General Letitia James said Valve's loot boxes amounted to "quintessential gambling," violating the state's constitution and penal law, with valuable items often hard to win and many items worth pennies. Valve, based in Bellevue, Washington, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Loot boxes let players use real money to buy chances to win virtual items, such as decorations for characters and weapons, in an effort to convey status. James said Valve generated billions of dollars of revenue by selling "keys" to open loot boxes, including in one game where the process resembled a slot machine as a wheel whirred through various items before stopping. The attorney general said key sales advanced Valve's unusual business model of letting players sell items they won on its virtual marketplace, Steam Community Market, and on other marketplaces. "Valve’s loot boxes are particularly pernicious because they are popular among children and adolescents," according to the complaint. Children introduced to gambling by age 12 are four times more likely to become problem gamblers as adults, the complaint added, citing the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. James is seeking restitution for players, plus a fine of three times Valve's alleged illegal gains. Loot boxes for video games have been the subject of other regulatory action. For example, in January 2025, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission fined Singapore-based Cognosphere, the maker of Genshin Impact, $20 million for deceiving children and others about the odds of winning valuable loot-box prizes. Children under 16 were also blocked from buying loot boxes without parental consent. Cognosphere, doing business as HoYoverse, did not admit wrongdoing, the FTC said.