SAVANNAH, Ga. ()– Leaders tied to the House of Prayer Christian Church of America (HOPCC) were indicted recently and a past member shared their experience with both the church and leadership.

“It was cult, at its core it was a cult that was a real estate slash [Veterans Affair] scam,” a former member of the church told Thursday.

Taiana Moreno was born into the House of Prayer Church in Washington until her teen years. At the age of 17, she moved to Hinesville for school after church leaders told their members they were forbidden from attending public school.

“Rony Denis” was one of the eight men who are accused of committing a long running conspiracy of fraud. Denis was the founder and main leader of the church.

“We were always made to feel like Rony Denis is this man of God and how he prays for everybody,” Moreno said. “Of course, we started wondering different things about why he disappeared, and we weren’t seeing him anymore and he wasn’t interacting with the church. Everybody just kind of tried to brush it off as like, well, he’s doing important things. Obviously, we know now that it was not the case.”

“Rony Denis” is not his real name but an identity he allegedly stole in 1983. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Denis was indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit brank fraud, wire fraud and assisting in a false tax return.

Moreno left the church in 2021 but said during her time there was always pressure to give money.

“Over the process of time, they were just demanding more and more money out of us, and they were funding all these so-called missionary trips and asking for the members to constantly donate,” Moreno said. “My ex-husband was giving money, like all the time, just so much money and offerings.”

Pastor Bernadel Semexant, who was indicted Thursday for various sex offenses involving a minor, was someone Moreno ran into on occasion.

“There would be comments all the time like he is really weirdly close with teenagers and has a very weird friendship with them and he’s not the only one,” Moreno said.

If you or someone you know were victimized by leadership of HOPCC or have information about possible fraud or sexual abuse, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) asks you to fill out this form.

“The FBI is actively seeking additional victims of fraud schemes,” Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the FBI’s Atlanta Division Brian Ozden said. “If you or somebody, you know, had contact with the House of Prayer, Christian Churches of America or the House of Prayer Bible Seminary and believe your personal information benefits or finances were misused, we are asking that you please come forward.”