Tony Alamo, whose Christian ministry compound in Fouke, Ark., has been under surveillance by federal authorities, was arrested Thursday on federal charges of transporting minor children across state lines for sexual activity.
Alamo was apprehended while checking out of the Little America Hotel in Flagstaff, Ariz., about 2:45 p.m. CDT without incident.
The federal warrant accuses Alamo of “knowingly transporting a minor (under 18) across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual activity that would be a criminal offense under state law.”
FBI agents had received information Alamo was attempting to travel to Los Angeles. Law enforcement agencies narrowed the search to Flagstaff and the Little America Hotel, said Manny Johnson, a spokesman for the FBI in Phoenix.
Alamo, whose real name is Bernie LaZar Hoffman, 74, was traveling with his wife and other females. There were no children with him at the time of the arrest, said Johnson.
The hotel is at Interstate 40 and Butler Road in Flagstaff and “is a popular place,” said Johnson.
Flagstaff Police Sgt. Tom Boughner said the police department assisted FBI agents from the Flagstaff, Phoenix and Los Angeles offices.
The federal arrest warrant was issued for Alamo by U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry A. Bryant in the Western District of Arkansas for violating U.S. Code Title 18, Section 2423.
Alamo will be scheduled for an initial appearance in federal court in Flagstaff to determine when he will be returned to Arkansas to face the charges.
Alamo was transported to the Coconino County jail in Flagstaff. An extradition hearing had not been scheduled late Thursday, said FBI spokesman Steve Frazier.
Federal and state authorities, prompted by allegations of child pornography being produced on site, executed search warrants Saturday evening at Tony Alamo Christian Ministries in Fouke. Shortly before 6 p.m., agents from the FBI, Arkansas State Police and the Arkansas Department of Human Services converged on the multi-residential compound, which sits on the equivalent of a half-mile square. For about an hour, search teams were seen entering the church and several neighboring buildings belonging to the Alamo Ministries.
Allegations that children living at the Alamo facilities were being sexually and physically abused were central to the state investigation, said Bill Sadler, a spokesman for the Arkansas State Police.
The federal investigation is based on possible violations of the Mann Act regarding the transportation of minors across state lines with intent to engage in criminal activity. State police had the compound in Fouke under surveillance Friday night and throughout the day Saturday.
KHTS radio station in Santa Clarita, Calif., reported Thursday that FBI agents, sheriff’s deputies and county child welfare workers visited the Saugus, Calif., location of the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries early Sunday morning. Saugus is near Santa Clarita.
But no one was taken into custody in the California facility.
Lt. Mark Hershey of the Santa Clarita sheriff’s station confirmed the department had been advised of the federal warrant for the arrest of Alamo and it was also under surveillance.
Alamo was apprehended while checking out of the Little America Hotel in Flagstaff, Ariz., about 2:45 p.m. CDT without incident.
The federal warrant accuses Alamo of “knowingly transporting a minor (under 18) across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual activity that would be a criminal offense under state law.”
FBI agents had received information Alamo was attempting to travel to Los Angeles. Law enforcement agencies narrowed the search to Flagstaff and the Little America Hotel, said Manny Johnson, a spokesman for the FBI in Phoenix.
Alamo, whose real name is Bernie LaZar Hoffman, 74, was traveling with his wife and other females. There were no children with him at the time of the arrest, said Johnson.
The hotel is at Interstate 40 and Butler Road in Flagstaff and “is a popular place,” said Johnson.
Flagstaff Police Sgt. Tom Boughner said the police department assisted FBI agents from the Flagstaff, Phoenix and Los Angeles offices.
The federal arrest warrant was issued for Alamo by U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry A. Bryant in the Western District of Arkansas for violating U.S. Code Title 18, Section 2423.
Alamo will be scheduled for an initial appearance in federal court in Flagstaff to determine when he will be returned to Arkansas to face the charges.
Alamo was transported to the Coconino County jail in Flagstaff. An extradition hearing had not been scheduled late Thursday, said FBI spokesman Steve Frazier.
Federal and state authorities, prompted by allegations of child pornography being produced on site, executed search warrants Saturday evening at Tony Alamo Christian Ministries in Fouke. Shortly before 6 p.m., agents from the FBI, Arkansas State Police and the Arkansas Department of Human Services converged on the multi-residential compound, which sits on the equivalent of a half-mile square. For about an hour, search teams were seen entering the church and several neighboring buildings belonging to the Alamo Ministries.
Allegations that children living at the Alamo facilities were being sexually and physically abused were central to the state investigation, said Bill Sadler, a spokesman for the Arkansas State Police.
The federal investigation is based on possible violations of the Mann Act regarding the transportation of minors across state lines with intent to engage in criminal activity. State police had the compound in Fouke under surveillance Friday night and throughout the day Saturday.
KHTS radio station in Santa Clarita, Calif., reported Thursday that FBI agents, sheriff’s deputies and county child welfare workers visited the Saugus, Calif., location of the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries early Sunday morning. Saugus is near Santa Clarita.
But no one was taken into custody in the California facility.
Lt. Mark Hershey of the Santa Clarita sheriff’s station confirmed the department had been advised of the federal warrant for the arrest of Alamo and it was also under surveillance.