Church Leaders Indicted in $22 Million Fraud Targeting Military Veterans

Federal prosecutors say a Georgia-based church network accused of operating like a cult drained millions from U.S. veterans—while Donald Trump was in the White House for the second time.

On Thursday, a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia indicted Rony Denis, founder of the House of Prayer Christian Churches of America (HOPCC), and seven of his senior leaders. The charges include bank fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy, false tax filings, and the misuse of veterans’ education benefits.

“These defendants are accused of exploiting trust, faith, and the service of our nation’s military members to enrich themselves,” said Paul Brown, FBI Atlanta’s special agent in charge. “No religious title or sanctuary will protect someone from accountability.”

The arrests came after FBI raids in Columbia County, Georgia, this week. The investigation stretches back more than two decades. As early as 2004, authorities say the church orchestrated “straw buyer” real estate scams, using members’ names to buy homes under false pretenses, only to later seize control of the properties.

According to court filings, from 2018 to 2020 the group pocketed over $5.2 million in rental income while allowing mortgages to collapse. Prosecutors say the network used more than 150 properties and funneled tens of millions in fraudulent profits into the church’s control.

The House of Prayer’s seminary was also accused of siphoning off GI Bill benefits. Veterans were allegedly lured with promises of accredited Bible training, only to see their federal tuition benefits redirected into church coffers.

Critics have long called HOPCC a cult. Former members described intimidation tactics, forced divorces, and the stripping away of personal finances. “It was about total control,” one former soldier stationed at Fort Gordon told reporters after the 2022 raids. “They preyed on your faith and your loyalty to the military.”

Denis, who obtained U.S. citizenship in 2002 but whose background remains murky, is painted in the indictment as a shadowy figure demanding obedience through fear. Prosecutors allege he manipulated marriages, financial accounts, and even immigration documents to consolidate his grip.

One detail that drew immediate attention: Denis is represented by attorney Steven Sadow—the same lawyer who defended President Trump in his Georgia election interference case. The connection adds fuel to concerns from Democrats that Trump’s second administration has not prioritized oversight of extremist religious movements.

“This is exactly what happens when watchdogs are asleep at the wheel,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD). “Veterans were scammed under the nose of a president who has cozied up to shady religious outfits while cutting protections for those who served.”

The indictment says the scheme cost veterans and their families more than $22 million. Funds meant for housing, education, and stability were drained into church accounts.

“This wasn’t just fraud. It was betrayal,” said Christina Lopez, whose husband, an Iraq War veteran, lost his GI Bill funding after enrolling in a House of Prayer seminary. “They promised to help him find purpose after service. Instead, they left us broke and ashamed.”

The case is expected to drag on for years. Prosecutors are reviewing 175 bank accounts, 100 electronic devices, and thousands of pages of seized documents. They’ve also issued more than 200 grand jury subpoenas.

The Justice Department has filed a motion to declare the case “complex,” signaling one of the largest religious fraud prosecutions in recent history.

“This indictment is a warning to anyone who thinks faith can be weaponized for greed,” Brown of the FBI said. “We will not allow veterans—the people who gave everything for this country—to be exploited by those hiding behind a cross.”