Overview
- A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment on May 19 charging Treva Edwards with two counts of sex trafficking, three counts of forced labor, and conspiracy, and charging his wife Christine Edwards with conspiracy to commit forced labor.
- The indictment says the couple ran a church called Jesus Is Lord by the Holy Ghost in Orange, New Jersey, from about 2010 to 2025 and recruited vulnerable people to live at the church and perform unpaid manual labor under strict rules and threats.
- Prosecutors allege Treva Edwards used claims of prophecy, threats of spiritual and physical retribution, food and sleep deprivation, and monitoring to control members and that he repeatedly sexually assaulted at least two victims, including impregnating one and forcing an abortion.
- Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General led the probe and the Justice Department is prosecuting the case; both defendants have pleaded not guilty, bail has been denied, and prosecutors say Edwards has tried to exert influence from jail and has shown interest in witness intimidation.
- The sex trafficking counts carry a statutory mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison and no trial date has been set as investigators continue to seek tips and interview potential victims and witnesses.