AUGUSTA, Ga. () – “Rony Denis,” the creator and head of House of Prayer Christian Churches, was denied bail during a detention hearing on Friday, September 26, 2025.
This ruling was issued by Magistrate Judge Brian Epps of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, who opted not to grant bond to the pastor. Denis’s nationwide church organization is under an ongoing FBI investigation.
As a result, Denis will remained in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending trial.
The detention hearing for Denis, whose identity, “Rony Denis,” federal authorities suspect to be falsely adopted in 1983, extended for nearly three hours, concluding after 2 p.m. on Friday.
There were nine exhibits brought before the bench between both government prosecutors and Denis’ legal team Friday morning.
Denis’ detention hearing was held separately from other church leaders charged in the federal case.
Earlier in the week, six defendants linked to the federal criminal investigation of alleged illegal activities by the leadership of the House of Prayer Christian Churches were arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Epps at the U.S. District Courthouse in downtown Augusta. While those leaders received bond, they were subjected to specific conditions, including restrictions on communicating or contacting church members and their families.
Defendants in court Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, included Omar Garcia, Marcus Labat, David Reip, Gerard Robertson, Dennis Nostrant, and Joseph Fryar.
The defendants face charges related to alleged fraud schemes and tax offenses. Five of them are based in the Hinesville, GA area. The sixth defendant, Omar Garcia, aged 40, is from Palm Bay, Florida, and faces charges of Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud.
Denis owned a home in Martinez, Ga. where he was arrested during a raid earlier in September. He also had residences in Hinesville and Palm Beach.
Investigators are still trying to find out more about Denis’ true identity and origin. He first became a U.S. citizen in 2002.
