By: Richard L. Smith
A federal grand jury in New Jersey has returned a superseding indictment charging an Orange pastor and his wife with operating what prosecutors describe as a years-long scheme involving forced labor, coercion, and sexual exploitation of church members.
According to federal authorities, Treva Edwards, 61, of Orange, founder and pastor of a church known as “Jesus is Lord by the Holy Ghost,” faces two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, three counts of forced labor, and one count of conspiracy to commit forced labor.
His wife, Christine Edwards, 64, has been charged with conspiracy to commit forced labor.
Federal prosecutors allege that between 2010 and 2025, the couple targeted individuals experiencing personal hardships, including financial and family difficulties, and persuaded them to join the church and live within a multi-unit apartment building in Orange that served as the church’s base of operations.
According to the superseding indictment, Treva Edwards claimed he was a prophet who communicated directly with God and allegedly warned members that disobedience would bring spiritual punishment as well as emotional, physical, and financial consequences.
Prosecutors contend that the Edwardses obtained labor contracts for work throughout the Orange area, including cleaning and gutting properties, snow removal, trash hauling, furniture moving, sewage cleanup, and rodent extermination.
Church members were allegedly assigned to perform the work without pay, while the defendants kept the earnings generated from those jobs.
The indictment further alleges that church members were pressured into working through fear, manipulation, and threats.
Authorities claim the defendants controlled members’ daily lives by regulating meals, sleep schedules, prayer routines, work assignments, communication with outsiders, and movement outside the church property.
Victims were allegedly isolated from non-members and taught that outsiders were evil or influenced by the devil.
Federal investigators also allege that victims were frequently deprived of sleep and generally provided only one meal per day after completing assigned labor.
In addition to the labor-related allegations, prosecutors accuse Treva Edwards of repeatedly sexually assaulting two victims.
According to the indictment, one victim became pregnant and was instructed to obtain an abortion, while another was allegedly told that sexual relations with Edwards were God’s will and necessary to prevent mental illness.
“Treva Edwards allegedly exploited faith, fear, and coercion to control vulnerable victims for his own benefit,” U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer said in a statement. 
Prosecutors allege Edwards used his position of religious authority to manipulate church members into providing uncompensated labor while subjecting some victims to physical, emotional, spiritual, and sexual abuse.
If convicted, Treva Edwards faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and up to life imprisonment on the sex trafficking charges.
The forced labor charges carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison, or life imprisonment if aggravated sexual abuse is proven. Christine Edwards faces penalties associated with the conspiracy charge.