HINESVILLE (GA)
WRDW [Augusta, GA]
September 11, 2025
By Steve Byerly and Liz Owens
Authorities on Thursday announced another indictment related to the House of Prayer Christian Church, a day after the church leader and seven others were rounded up.
This latest indictment – of Bernadel Semexant, 35, of Hinesville and Savannah – focuses on child sex crimes, while the ones Wednesday were more financial.
Semexant is charged with enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, sexual abuse of a minor, transfer of obscene material to a minor, receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
Semexant, a pastor with the church that some have called a cult and others have called a financial scam, may have worked at various church locations across the U.S., the Department of Justice said.
The church has locations in Augusta, Hinesville and Savannah in Georgia, as well as in North Carolina, Washington state, Texas and Tennessee.
Although the church has an Augusta location, it has no connection to the similarly named United House of Prayer with locations in Augusta and Dearing.
The FBI and the United States Attorneys Office are seeking additional information.
If you have information about Semexant or any other individual serving in a position of trust for the church, or have any information relevant to this investigation, you can fill out a short form at fbi.gov/SEMEXANTHOPCC.
Earlier arrests
On Wednesday morning, the FBI and Columbia County deputies raided a West Lake mansion at 3816 Honors Way, the home of the church leader.
He goes by the name Rony Denis, but federal authorities say he stole that identity in 1983, so they don’t know his true name.
He’s one of eight House of Prayer leaders indicted in various fraud schemes and tax charges.
Authorities and critics say the church and its affiliate House of Prayer Bible Seminary specifically target military members and veterans in a scheme to get their benefits.
Authorities alleged Denis and his close associates — Anthony Oloans, Joseph Fryar, Dennis Nostrant, Gerard Robertson, David Reip, Marcus Labat and Omar Garcia — used their leadership positions to exert extreme control over congregants.
Authorities say church members were manipulated into turning over personal information, pressured into marriages and divorces arranged by church leaders, and forced to live in properties tied to the defendants that generated rental income.
Church leaders humiliated members for perceived rule violations, kept a list of former members who were labeled as “traitors” and restricted members’ contact with relatives who left the church, authorities said.
Some veteran members were directed to enroll in the seminary with tuition to be paid through GI Bill benefits, authorities said. However, there was little to no instruction, authorities allege, and the veterans’ benefits were exhausted as the money was funneled into church-controlled accounts.
Authorities said defendants also recruited church members to serve as “straw buyers” of real estate, using VA loans. The properties were then leased out to bring money into the church.
The estate that was raided Wednesday – a nearly 11,000-square-foot home with eight bathrooms and seven bedrooms that was last listed on Zillow for $1.96 million – is owned by a limited-liability partnership known as Union GL Park.
However, divorce papers in association with that address show the home was occupied by Denis.
Who’s in the financial indictment?
- Rony Denis, age unknown, of Martinez, Hinesville, and West Palm Beach, Fla.: Charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and aiding and assisting in filing a false tax return. Denis is being held in the Jefferson County jail for the U.S. Marshals Service and is supposed to be sent to Augusta on Thursday, according to the jail.
- Anthony Oloans, 54, of Hinesville: Charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud.
- Joseph Fryar, 51, of Hinesville and Martinez: Charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud.
- Dennis Nostrant, 55, of Hinesville: Charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud.
- Gerard Robertson, 57, of Hinesville: Charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
- David Reip, 52, of Hinesville; Charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud.
- Marcus Labat, 42, of Hinesville: Charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.
- Omar Garcia, 40, of Palm Bay, Fla.: Charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.