Augusta, GA
Raided local church accused of stalling federal investigation
AUGUSTA, Ga. – A church accused of defrauding veterans and the government of millions of dollars is stalling a federal investigation, according to prosecutors.
In documents filed April 4, prosecutors want Geogia’s southern U.S. District Court to impose fines and hold several House of Prayer leaders in contempt.
The FBI simultaneously raided House of Prayer churches in Hinesville and Augusta in June 2022 for suspected VA fraud.
The church seminary is accused of scamming the government out of GI Bill funds by recruiting veterans but not delivering worthy instruction. Some critics say the church is a cult that draws in military members and veterans to accomplish this.
According to previous court filings, the Department of Veterans Affairs paid more than $20 million in benefits to the church as part of GI Bill funding for education.
The federal government also argued the church tried to control the lives of military members to take advantage of them financially.
The court ordered the church and its parent company to turn over documents, but they refuse, saying this would violate their Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate themselves.
Federal prosecutors say the Fifth Amendment doesn’t apply to corporations.
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Instead, they say the church must appoint an agent who can turn over the material without invoking the Fifth Amendment.
Federal prosecutors say any arguments against turning over the documents are irrelevant at this point, since the time for doing so has passed.
The only matters left for consideration are whether the church has shown cause for not complying and who bears responsibility for that, prosecutors say.
Further, the church hasn’t shown how anyone would be incriminated by truthfully answering questions on the company’s ownership or employees, according to prosecutors.
In addition to the Georgia sites, federal agents raided church locations in Killeen, Texas; Fayetteville N.C.; and Tacoma, Wash.
All are near military installations.
The Augusta church – on Old Tobacco Road just outside Gate 5 of Fort Eisenhower – was called the Assembly of Prayer but was part of the House of Prayer church system.
The church claimed to provide seminary schooling, and had more than 300 veterans enrolled for nearly a decade.
They were paid approximately $16 million from the VA for tuition, stipends and housing. The VA sent direct payments to the seminary for about $7 million in tuition.
The educational services were not performed to the standard required by the VA.
Investigators accuse the so-called seminary of:
- Overstating and otherwise misrepresenting the number of hours of instruction.
- Misrepresenting the qualifications of faculty members of the seminary.
- Misrepresenting the facility locations of students.
- Misrepresenting the facility locations of faculty members.
- Misrepresenting the time periods over which faculty members worked for the seminary.
- Misrepresenting the courses taught by faculty members.
- Misrepresenting the courses available.
- Misrepresenting the manner of instruction.
- Misrepresenting the quality of instruction.
- Misrepresenting the nature of the education program, including the requirements to successfully complete the program.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Volunteers came together Saturday to help clean up an Augusta neighborhood.
The cleanup took place on Wheeless Road and Dorn Road.
Jeremiah Atkinson started the event as a way to clean up trash dumped in the area and help the community.
He said they had at least 30 bags picked up as of Saturday morning.
“My message is if you see one piece of trash, pick it up and help Augusta clean it up because I feel like that would be more efficient, just pick up one piece of trash a day, just one to help out the community,” Atkinson said.
Organizers also provided snacks for volunteers.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
TikToker cleans father’s hoarded house – and goes viral
Madison Lovelle posts videos online while going through and cleaning her childhood home after her father died.
Housing costs are often the biggest Georgians deal with every month, so it’s important to try and save money where possible.
Last week, WalletHub released its ranking of the most affordable cities to buy a home. It analyzed 300 cities based on 10 metrics, with the biggest weight going to housing affordability and cost per square foot.
Best city to buy a home in Georgia?
Augusta ranked the highest among Georgia cities, ranking 8th overall and 3rd best in the midsized cities list.
Augusta real estate prices
According to Zillow, as of March, the median list price for a house in Georgia is $205,000 with a median sale price of $187,283. About 57% of sales are under the list price.
The average rent, as of April, is $1,365 per month.
Augusta cost of living
The MIT Living Wage Calculator reports the hourly pay needed to support yourself and/or your family, assuming full-time employment. For Richmond County (Augusta), it’s $20.31 for one adult, $28.16 for a two-adult household with one working, and $14.08 for a two-adult household with both working.
Children obviously increase the wage needed. Depending on how many adults are working, the necessary pay figures may increase by up to $13 for just one child, with more needed for additional children.
Worst city to buy a home in Georgia?
The Georgia city with the lowest ranking on the list overall was Sandy Springs. However, with 300 cities, landing at No. 151 doesn’t make it nearly the worst in the nation. Sandy Springs was No. 56 on the small cities list.
What are the best cities to buy a home in US?
- Flint, MI
- Detroit, MI
- Surprise, AZ
- Yuma, AZ
- Akron, OH
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Memphis, TN
- Augusta, GA
- Indianapolis, IN
- Cleveland, OH
Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Senate candidate Derek Dooley made several visits to the area on Friday.
Dooley had stops in both Lincolnton and Augusta on May 29 and was joined by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp for his “Georgia First” tour. He spoke about one of the issues he finds in politics.
“But the other piece of it is the corruption. People sit on these committees. They have access to information that none of us have. And then you look up 2 or 3 years down the road and their wealth is just skyrocketing,” Dooley said. “You’re outperforming every investor out there. And I think it’s shameful. I think it erodes trust. It’s something that I will never do.”
“Politicians were out there getting paid. They were coming back home. They’re raising money and campaigning while the government shut down,” Kemp said. “What Derek’s saying, if he’s up there, we’re not going to allow legislators to get paid. We’re going to take away their benefits. That way, you won’t ever have another shutdown again.”
Dooley is facing Congressman Mike Collins in a runoff for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
The winner of the Republican nomination will face incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.
Photojournalist credit: Regynal McKie
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