TEXARKANA - An attorney for convicted evangelist Tony Alamo said an FBI agent’s affidavit that Alamo controls property that is listed in the names of members of his ministry is based on “speculation” and “hearsay.”
Attorney John Rogers made the assertions in a response to the government’s effort to seize 27 properties in Texarkana, Fouke and Fort Smith, which are associated with Tony Alamo Christian Ministries, to help pay $2.5 million in restitution he owes to five women he took as “brides” when they were children.
Alamo, 78, is serving 175 years in prison after being convicted of taking the women across state lines for sex when they were children.
The affidavit written by FBI Special Agent Timmy Akins contends that Alamo Ministries often transferred ownership of property from one member to another - but that Alamo controlled the properties.
“Whether or not Special Agent Akins believes in these generalities as a matter of his personal opinion, they are factually false and are based solely in speculation on his part and/or hearsay accounts by individuals with no personal knowledge of the matter asserted,” the response filed Wednesday states.
Information for this article was contributed by Lynn LaRowe of the Texarkana Gazette.
Arkansas, Pages 14 on 06/30/2013