Tony Alamo, founder of Tony Alamo Christian Ministries was sentenced today to 175 years in prison, the maximum punishment, for taking children as “brides” and crossing state lines to have sex with them. This is effectively a life sentence for the 75 year old cult leader Alamo. Alamo was convicted in July 2009 on a 10-count federal indictment.
Tony Alamo, born Bernie Hoffman, and his late wife Susan founded the questionably Christian cult, known as Tony Alamo Christian Ministries. They had a regularly syndicated TV program during the 1970’s where the sermons were given by Susan. After Susan died of cancer in 1982, Tony Alamo displayed her body in their compound for 6 months so that the Alamo Ministries followers could pray for her. According to CNN, her body was given back to her family after sixteen years.
Followers of Tony Alamo Christian Ministries regularly left pamphlets of Alamo’s writings on car windshields. Alamo regularly condemned Catholicism and the Pope as well as writing about many perceived satanic conspiracy theories.
After being notified by Terry Purvis, mayor of Fouke, Arkansas that his office had been receiving complaints of child abuse and sexual abuse against Tony Alamo, federal agents raided Alamo’s Arkansas headquarters in September, 2008. Several days later, Alamo was arrested by FBI agents in Arizona on charges that he transported minors over state lines for sexual activity in violation of the Mann act. Tony Alamo plead not guilty in October, 2008
Eventually, Alamo was charges on 10 counts with 6 victims of taking minors across state lines for sex. Throughout his trial, Alamo claimed his victims were lying. On July 24, 2009, Alamo was found guilty on all ten counts.
Before the sentence was handed down Friday, three of his child brides testified. One woman who had been taken as Alamo’s child bride at the young age of 8 had much to say when confronting Alamo. “You preyed on innocent children. You have the audacity to ask for mercy. What mercy did you show us?”
Another victim was quoted as saying, “Maybe the real God, not the God you made up, will have mercy on your soul.”
U.S. District Judge Harry F. Barnes said before delivering his sentence, “Mr. Alamo, one day you will face a higher and greater judge than me, may he have mercy on your soul.”
Tony Alamo will face another hearing in January to determine whether he should pay restitution to his victims.
Sources:
Wikipedia/Tony Alamo
Comcast News
Comments
These so called men of God who pray on the innocent, make me sick. Glad he will rot in prison.
Kaufman County Crime Examiner
Glad to hear he will be paying for his crimes. It's amazing how so many of these people think taking a child as a wife is OK.
I think he finally got what he deserves. Excellent reporting, Rebecca.
Glad to hear he is paying for what he has done!
:)
Third culture kids examiner
Seattle stay-at-home moms examiner
Great reporting Rebecca! I'm glad he's going to pay!
Great Coverage of this story.
Brigham City Food Examiner
Excellent reporting!
Why is it that that these "false prophets" are so extraordinarily evil when they pretend to represent something divine?
Due justice!! Excellent reporting.
I had to come back and read this one again. So happy they got this guy.
Hey, Rebecca did you know that its on the court records that the jury said to the judge that there was no evidence to convict Tony Alamo for what he was charged with, but can we still make a conviction anyways.In other words we are so swayed by biased press reports that we just want so bad to put this guy away even though there's no evidence to support the charges. This guy and his church are on a govt. hit list because he's been exposing the feds for years for all the atrocity's they've been committing. If your interested in not being another govt. cattle that eats up what ever the press tells you and you want to hear another side check out www.alamominstries.com or arcticbeacon.com.
Both sad and shocking.
Too bad he doesn't live long enough to serve all of those years. I hope he rots in hell. There is not much worse than a child molester unless it is one that does it under the guise of Christianity. Great article.
Good in depth reporting with well done research.TX
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