The wife and stepdaughter of a former Toledo pastor charged in a child sex-trafficking ring were federally indicted based on allegations they kidnapped a victim in the case and threatened her to not testify in an upcoming trial.
Alisa Haynes, 43, the wife of former pastor Anthony Haynes, and his stepdaughter, Alexis Fortune, 24, are charged with tampering with a witness, victim, or informant for reportedly choking the girl with a black computer cord to convince her not to go through with testifying.
Ms. Fortune is also charged with using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and making a false statement or representation made to a department or agency of the United States. Federal agents say Ms. Fortune pointed a firearm at the victim during the incident and that Ms. Fortune also lied to law enforcement when she said she had not seen the girl since last year, according to the indictment.
The charges were filed Tuesday and posted in the federal court’s online system on Wednesday.
Mr. Haynes, former pastor of Greater Life Christian Center, is one of three area religious leaders facing felony sex-trafficking charges. On April 7, 2017, both Cordell Jenkins — former pastor of Abundant Life Ministries — and Mr. Haynes were arrested on sex-trafficking charges and later were indicted by a federal grand jury.
Prosecutors say one of the victims moved in with the Haynes family when she was 14 years old. Mr. Haynes reportedly introduced the girl to several other men, including a third pastor, Kenneth Butler — formerly of Kingdom Encounter Family Worship Center in Detroit — and Jenkins, who also engaged in similar sexual activity with her and provided her cash and other things of value, according to a criminal complaint.
Jenkins pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court for his involvement while Butler pleaded guilty in May. Mr. Haynes is scheduled to go to trial next week along with Laura Lloyd-Jenkins — Jenkin’s ex-wife and former Lucas County administrator — who is charged with obstructing a sex-trafficking investigation and making a false statement to federal investigators.
On Jan. 5, federal agents said Mrs. Haynes and Ms. Fortune went to the victim’s home and tried to convince the girl not to testify.
The witness was home with her minor sister, who was visiting from out of state, when she heard a knock on the door. When she opened the door, she saw a person wearing all black brandishing a silver revolver, according to a criminal complaint. That person — later identified as Ms. Fortune — reportedly pointed the gun at the girl’s head and forced her way into the apartment.
Ms. Fortune then allegedly choked the girl with a black computer cord, but she did not lose consciousness, court documents show.
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SOURCE: The Toledo Blade, Allison Dunn
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