AUGUSTA, GA – The FBI has arrested the leader of a controversial religious group, the House of Prayer, in a significant development near Augusta, Georgia. This arrest follows the indictment of eight individuals on fraud and identity theft charges, specifically targeting veterans.
Authorities have identified the man as Rony Denis, who is currently held in Jefferson County Jail. The arrest took place during a raid at a mansion in Martinez, an unincorporated community just outside Augusta. The FBI confirmed that the operation involved “court-authorized activities.”
The House of Prayer has been under scrutiny by federal authorities and critics who allege that the organization is a scam, possibly a cult, designed to siphon veteran benefits from the federal government. The group has been a focus of federal investigations for several years.
Denis founded the church in 2002 in Louisiana, later relocating its headquarters to Hinesville, Georgia. The organization expanded to about a dozen locations, some of which were raided three years ago by the FBI for suspected fraud related to VA benefits.
Many church members were unaware of Denis’ whereabouts following the earlier raids, speculating that he might have left the country. Now, his arrest is part of a broader federal indictment against eight House of Prayer leaders.
The indictment details accusations of maintaining a list of “ex-HOPCC traitors,” humiliating members for perceived infractions, and restricting contact with family members who left the church.
As the investigation unfolds, more details are expected to emerge. Authorities are committed to keeping the public informed about the latest developments in this ongoing case.