MARTINEZ, Ga. ( WRDW /Gray News) – A man considered by many to be the leader of a cult was arrested by local and federal authorities at his Georgia mansion Wednesday.

The FBI and Columbia deputies raided the West Lake mansion and arrested the leader of the House of Prayer, a group critics say is a cult that scams veterans out of benefits.

Columbia County deputies assisted with the raid at 3816 Honors Way, but the case belongs to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and involves allegations of financial or identity theft and fraud.

The founder of the House of Prayer was taken into custody and booked into jail, but it is not clear who the mysterious man is.

Federal authorities said he goes by Rony Denis but that he stole that identity in 1983, and they do not know his true name.

He is

See Full Page