A popular Christian evangelist was slammed with a stiff prison sentence and fines for his penchant for sexual relations and secret marriage ceremonies with minors.
Bernie Hoffman, aka Tony Alamo, founder and leader of the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries, was sentenced to 175 years' imprisonment on Friday by District Court Judge Harry F. Barnes in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, according to a report obtained by the National Association of Chiefs of Police.
The 75-year old evangelist was convicted this summer of charges that he transported minor girls across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual activity.
On July 24, 2009, after six days of testimony, the jury found Alamo guilty on all 10 counts of the federal indictment. During the trial, the women testified Alamo had sexual relations with them while they were underage and that they traveled across state lines with Alamo, or at his request, for the purpose of his having sexual relations with them.
The five women who testified at Hoffman's trial -- who are now ages 17 to 33 -- told jurors that Alamo "married" them in secret ceremonies while they were still minors. According to their testimony the evangelist went as far a giving them gold wedding bands.
Besides the prison sentence, the well-known Christian preacher was fined $250.000.00. The 175-year sentence represents the maximum sentence on each of the 10 counts and they will be served consecutively.
“This court believes you should be incarcerated in a federal prison for the rest of your natural life,” U.S. District Judge Harry Barnes told Alamo. “Some day you will meet a judge with higher authority than me. May he have mercy on your soul.”
The case was investigated by agents of the FBI and the Arkansas State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyra Jenner, Candace Taylor, and Clay Fowlkes prosecuted the case for the United States.
In addition, a bankruptcy court demanded that a Tony Alamo Christian Ministries staff member, Tommy Scarcello, surrender financial and property records by November 30.
The bankruptcy case was developed by prosecutors amid allegations he may have committed fraud when he filed for Chapter 7 debt relief in the Eastern District of Oklahoma in September 2008.
Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he's a columnist for The Examiner (examiner.com) and New Media Alliance (thenma.org). In addition, he's a blogger for the Cheyenne, Wyoming Fox News Radio affiliate KGAB (www.kgab.com), Kouri also serves as political advisor for Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor Michael Moriarty.
He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He's a news writer and columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. Kouri appear regularly as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Fox News Channel, Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, etc.
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Comments
Wake up! These women have alot to gain by lying, like the 3 million dollars each they are trying to get out of it, (not too much) They would not have to work for the rest of their lives. And the evidence that they are lying is that for months after they left the church they told several if not many people that they had nothing against Tony Alamo or his church and would never do anything to come against them, but as soon as they were approached by the FBI, and sent gifts, and obviously promised Millions, and then were sent to the govt. Deprogramming camp called Wells Springs then all the sudden they were ready to start their lying campaign and were able to give academy award winning performances on the stand, even had the poor old judge weeping over their crap. So wake up, people and don't believe everything you read or see on the news. If you are interested in hearing another side, and not being one of the cattle that believes everything you hear in the news go to www.alamoministries.
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