Eight individuals associated with the House of Prayer Christian Churches of America (HOPCC) have been indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia for their alleged involvement in various fraud schemes and tax violations. The indictment, unsealed on September 10, 2025, outlines charges including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, wire fraud, and aiding and assisting in filing false tax returns.
Those charged are FNU LNU (also known as Rony Denis), Anthony Oloans, Joseph Fryar, Dennis Nostrant, Gerard Robertson, David Reip, Marcus Labat, and Omar Garcia. The alleged offenses span multiple states including Georgia and Florida. If convicted on all counts, the defendants face significant penalties: up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud-related charges, up to 20 years for wire fraud-related charges, and up to three years for aiding in filing false tax returns. Fines could reach $1 million for some offenses.
The indictment claims that Rony Denis used a stolen identity since 1983 to become a U.S. citizen in 2002 before founding HOPCC and its affiliate House of Prayer Bible Seminary (HOPBS). Prosecutors allege Denis and his associates exerted extreme control over church members—pressuring them into marriages or divorces arranged by leadership and compelling them to live in properties owned by the defendants.
Military personnel were allegedly targeted through recruitment into HOPCC and enrollment at HOPBS. Their Veterans Administration benefits were then used to fund church-controlled accounts under the guise of “expense reimbursements” or “love offerings.” Leaders are accused of disguising payouts to themselves while using illicit funds for personal expenses such as credit card payments.
Further allegations describe how church leaders maintained a list of “ex-HOPCC traitors,” humiliated members who broke rules, and restricted contact with family members who left the organization.
According to federal investigators, from 2004 onward several defendants engaged in a long-term conspiracy to defraud financial institutions. They allegedly recruited church members as “straw buyers” in real estate deals—falsifying loan documents and using forged powers of attorney—to conceal true ownership. More than $5.2 million was reportedly collected as rental income between 2018 and 2020 from these properties.
In another scheme outlined by prosecutors, Denis along with others is accused of defrauding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) out of millions in education benefits from at least 2011 through 2022. By securing religious exemptions under false pretenses for two Georgia seminary locations—which made them ineligible for federal funds—they still applied for VA benefits totaling more than $3 million locally and $23.5 million across five sites nationwide. Officials allege that fraudulent certifications were submitted each year stating no federal funds were received when millions were actually accepted annually.
The indictment also includes allegations that Denis aided in filing false income tax returns for three consecutive years—2018 through 2020—by underreporting his income despite knowing otherwise.
Federal agencies involved—including the FBI—are seeking additional victims whose personal information may have been misused by HOPCC. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to report via an online questionnaire at fbi.gov/HOPCCVictims.
“This indictment alleges a scheme in which individuals betrayed the trust of church members for self-enrichment at the members’ expense,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We commend the work of our law enforcement partners in unraveling this fraudulent operation.”
“The defendants are accused of exploiting trust, faith, and even the service of our nation’s military members to enrich themselves,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This indictment makes clear that using coercion, manipulation, and fraud under the guise of religion will not shield wrongdoers from accountability.”
“Safeguarding Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefit funds reserved for deserving veterans remains a priority and our investigators are working diligently in the field to ensure these programs are not exploited for financial gain and greed,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office. “These indictments are a clear warning that the VA OIG, alongside our partners, will continue to aggressively pursue those who seek to defraud these vital VA benefits.”
“The defendants are accused of fraudulently receiving VA education benefits intended for those who honorably served in our country’s armed forces, along with committing other financial crimes,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents are diligently investigating those who commit financial fraud on the U.S. government and law-abiding taxpayers.”
“Those who abuse the housing finance system for fraud will be held accountable,” said Edwin S. Bonano, Special Agent in Charge at the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG). “FHFA-OIG is proud to stand with our law enforcement partners to protect victims and safeguard the integrity of the housing finance system.”
“Today’s coordinated arrests of individuals connected to the House of Prayer Christian Churches of America and House of Prayer Bible Seminary effectively disrupts a calculated scheme to defraud our military service members and veterans of their hard-earned VA benefits,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan O’Connor of the Department of Army Criminal Investigative Division’s Southern Field Office. “This investigation underscores CID’s unwavering commitment to protecting those who have served, and we will continue to aggressively pursue those who seek to exploit their trust and sacrifice.”
“USCIS will hold those that perpetrate immigration fraud accountable, and we will support any DOJ efforts to denaturalize this criminal, who used a stolen identity to fraudulently obtain U.S. citizenship,” said Sarah Posvar, Associate Portfolio Director with USCIS' Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate.”
The case is being investigated by multiple agencies: Federal Bureau of Investigation; Veterans Affairs Office Inspector General; Internal Revenue Service; Federal Housing Finance Authority; Department of Army CID; United States Citizenship & Immigration Services; with assistance from U.S Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant United States Attorneys Patricia G. Rhodes and George J.C Jacobs III are prosecuting this case.
An indictment is only an allegation—all defendants remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
