ATLANTA — A federal grand jury indicted two North Georgia men on charges they defrauded hundreds of churches out of nearly $9 million.

The jury returned a 91-count indictment against Abraham L. Kennard, 45, of Wildwood, and attorney R. Scott Cunningham, 52, of Dalton, according to The Associated Press.

Prosecutors said the men concocted a multi-million dollar advance-fee scheme in July 2001 in which they promised a forgivable loan or non-refundable grant of $50,000 for every $3,000 in fees a church or other non-profit paid their company.

Churches in 41 states invested at least $8.7 million after Network International Investment Corp., based in Wildwood, promised great returns, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

According to the indictment, Kennard paid a group of affiliates to locate potential victims for the company's Church Funding Project, then hosted a series of bogus financial presentations throughout the country.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Kennard assured prospective members that NIIC was a $25 million Nevada corporation that built Christian resorts nationwide and had $346 million available to fund the loans and grants.

Investigators estimate 1,600 churches and individuals paid $3,000 to $18,000 apiece to join NIIC's church funding project and that Kennard deposited about $8.7 million in proceeds from January 2002 through October 2002.

Investigators said the money paid for limousines, private jets, luxury automobiles and property for Kennard, his family and girlfriend, and Cunningham.

No trial date has been set.