5/24/13 – TG: Alamo transferred out of Illinois prison
Texarkana Gazette
May 24, 2013
By: Lynn LaRowe – Texarkana Gazette
Leader transferred out of Illinois prison
Imprisoned evangelist Tony Alamo was moved recently from a federal prison in Marion, Ill., to the Bureau of Prisons Transfer Facility in Oklahoma City.
Federal prison officials won’t say why Alamo, whose given name is Bernie LaZar Hoffman, was moved or where his final destination might be.
Bureau of Prison spokesperson said inmates are transferred for a variety of reasons, i n c l u d i n g discipline and security. When Alamo, 78, was first brought to a BOP facility after being sentenced in 2009 to 175 years in federal prison for bringing women he wed as children across state lines for sex, he was assigned to a unit in Tuscon, Ariz.
In November 2010, Alamo was moved to a unit in Terre Haute, Ind. Most recently, Alamo was housed in a federal prison in Marion, Ill.
In an affidavit FBI Special Agent Timmy Akins filed in proceedings that the government has initiated to seize Alamo Ministry properties, Alamo is described as still maintaining control of the controversial group and associated businesses.
“In approximately August 2010, while Alamo was incarcerated at the United States Penitentiary (USP) in Tucson, Arizona, your affiant became aware that three or four of Alamo’s wives relocated to the Tucson, Arizona area so that they could have face-to-face visitation with Alamo and receive instruction from Alamo as to how to conduct the daily operations of the Tony Alamo Christian Ministry,” the affidavit states.
“Alamo reportedly began making threatening comments regarding federal judges and federal officers. Subsequently, Alamo was transferred to another USP facility. Alamo is currently incarcerated in the USP, Marion, Illinois. Your affiant recently learned that some of Alamo’s wives have relocated to the vicinity of the USP, Marion, which your affiant believes the purpose is to continue to relay Alamo’s direction and instruction on how to operate the daily business of the TACM,” the affidavit states.
“Another informant, who advised he served as Alamo’s secretary in the USP-Marion prison, stated that he assisted Alamo by reading and preparing emails, letters, and religious material. Alamo operates his churches and businesses from USP-Marion. Alamo operates a trucking company, restaurant, construction company, apartment complex, and a company known as Advantage Foods while still in prison. Nothing happens at these entities without Alamo’s approval,” Akins’ affidavit states.
Next week a hearing is scheduled to address some of the properties associated with Alamo. A federal judge has ordered they can be sold to partially satisfy a $30 million judgment Alamo owes to two men raised in the ministry for abuses they suffered as children.