ST. LOUIS COUNTY — A reverend who claimed to be Jesus' best friend forced people to work for years in St. Louis area call centers, including one that operated out of a mansion previously owned by the rapper Nelly, federal prosecutors say.

Rev. David E. Taylor and Michelle Brannon, the executive director of the Kingdom of God Global Church, were arrested Wednesday on charges of coercing people in Michigan, Florida, Texas and the St. Louis region to raise tens of millions of dollars in donations.

The workers lived at homes in Chesterfield, Wildwood and Eureka. According to the U.S. Attorney's office, the workers manned telephones and sent out Facebook messages requesting donations that they claimed would be used on charity and church business but instead were used on luxury goods and prope

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