The wife and stepdaughter of a Toledo pastor have been arrested in connection with a child sex-trafficking conspiracy, an FBI spokesman said Sunday.
A source close to the case said Alisa Haynes — the wife of Anthony Haynes, who is facing federal charges of child sex trafficking and child pornography — kidnapped a female victim and tied her up.
The victim somehow freed herself near Walmart, 5821 Central Ave., and contacted police, who contacted the FBI.
It was not confirmed how Alexis Fortune — Mr. Haynes’ stepdaughter — was involved. The source could not confirm if this victim was one of the victims involved in the alleged sex-trafficking scheme, which involved two Toledo teenage girls.
Mrs. Haynes and Ms. Fortune, who were arrested early Saturday, are being held in the Lucas County jail, said Vicki Anderson, a spokesman for the FBI's Cleveland field office.
Little information has been released by the FBI about the charges against Mrs. Haynes and Ms. Fortune.
When her husband was charged in 2017, Mrs. Haynes briefly spoke to The Blade, but she did not answer when asked if she knew about the allegations about her husband.
Mr. Haynes, along with his co-defendants Cordell Jenkins and his now ex-wife Laura Lloyd-Jenkins, are scheduled to go to trial Jan. 22 in U.S. District Court Toledo.
Mr. Jenkins, 48, who founded and was a pastor at Abundant Life Ministries, and Mr. Haynes, 39, who led the Greater Life Christian Center, are each charged with sex trafficking and child pornography.
Ms. Lloyd-Jenkins, former Lucas County administrator, is charged with obstructing a sex-trafficking investigation and making a false statement to federal investigators.
A third pastor, Kenneth Butler, formerly of Kingdom Encounter Family Worship Center in Detroit, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sex traffic children, obstruction of a sex-traffic investigation, and two counts of sex trafficking children. He admitted he had sex with two underage girls, including encounters at Mr. Haynes’ church office.
A sentencing date for Mr. Butler is expected to be scheduled in February.
First Published January 6, 2019, 7:00 p.m.
