Prosecutors say Treva Edwards used threats and sexual violence to exert control over 'cult' members and use them for forced labor. Defense attorneys deny all the charges against him.A New Jersey man accused of being a cult leader controlled members through fear, starvation, forced labor, and sex for more than a decade, and has continued to exert his control over some of them even behind bars, prosecutors allege in court records obtained by USA TODAY.Treva Edwards, 61, founded and ran a church named Jesus is Lord by the Holy Ghost in the Newark suburb of Orange. He's charged with two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, three counts of forced labor, and conspiracy to commit forced labor, according to a superseding indictment filed in federal court on Tuesday, May 19. His wife Christine is charged with conspiracy to commit forced labor.The couple's attorneys did not respond to USA TODAY's request for comment on May 20 but have denied all the allegations in court records. The Edwards have both pleaded not guilty."These are serious charges," Rahul Agarwal, one of Treva Edwards' attorneys, told the judge in the case, according to court records obtained by USA TODAY. "To be clear, Mr. Edwards is innocent of them and fully expects to be vindicated by a jury of his peers."In arguing against allowing Edwards to be released pending his trial, prosecutors told the judge that he's a "dangerous purported 'prophet' who claims to speak to God.""(He) coerces members of his congregation through fear of violence and death, sleep deprivation, starvation, social isolation, and sexual violence into forced labor to benefit himself and amass further control over his followers," prosecutors wrote. "He poses a serious risk to the safety of the community . . . Over multiple years, Edwards used physical force to rape at least one of the members of his organization."The judge denied Edwards' request for bail and his trial is pending.Here's what to know about the case.What are the accusations against Treva Edwards?Between 2010 and his arrest in May 2025, prosecutors say that Treva Edwards and his wife forced at least six members of their church to work for free, doing jobs that included cleaning and gutting commercial and residential properties, shoveling snow, removing bulk trash, cleaning raw sewage, and exterminating rodent infestations, according to the indictment.Edwards and his wife ran the congregation out of a multi-unit apartment building and recruited "vulnerable people desperately searching for leadership" because of troubles that included financial and family problems, drug addiction, and previous sexual victimization, prosecutors say in court records."Edwards threatened physical harm to his victims, whether by his own hand or by an act of God, if they did not obey his demands that they perform menial labor and provide the profits to him," prosecutors say."The threat of spiritual retribution haunted Edwards’s victims," they say. "Edwards convinced his followersthat he could speak directly to God, and that God could punish them − including with physical harm − if they displeased Edwards. Followers earnestly believed Edwards when he told them that even harboring disobedient thoughts would cause God to bring foul weather, smite them with physical ailments like leprosy, make theminsane, imprison them, or cause them to commit suicide."Prosecutors say he controlled two of the church members through "repeated sexual assaults" and that when one of them got pregnant, he forced her to get an abortion. Punishment for disobedience included food and sleep deprivation, with prosecutors saying they've obtained Edwards' text messages to members. They included, prosecutors say: "NO DINNER TONIGHT AND FASTING FOR EVERY WRONG SPIRIT!!!!"Edwards' attorneys argue in court documents that he has never been violent, has no criminal history, and that there are multiple members of the church who continue to support him and "believe these charges are unfounded."Prosecutors: Treva Edwards still running cult from jailSince his arrest a year ago, prosecutors say Treva Edwards has continued to exert control over his congregation through loyal members, some of whom have been trying to identify their leader's accusers, prosecutors say."Edwards already has indicated an interest in witness intimidation on recorded jail calls, including with his codefendant wife, who was ordered not to communicate with Edwards about the case," they say. "On August 13, 2025, Edwards told his wife that . . . 'the case is not even difficult, we just need total obedience,' in an apparent reference to controlling members and preventing them from speaking to law enforcement."Treva Edwards' trial has not yet been scheduled.Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers the death penalty, cold case investigations and breaking news for USA TODAY. Follow her on X at @amandaleeusat.