Another Ohio Pastor Sentenced For Sex Trafficking

TOLEDO, OH — Another Ohio pastor has been sentenced to life in prison for sex trafficking a minor, the Department of Justice announced.

Anthony Haynes, 40, was convicted in March of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor, sex trafficking, child exploitation and obstruction of a sex trafficking investigation. Haynes has now been sentenced to life in prison.

"This defendant and his friends preyed upon a vulnerable child and used her for their own gratification,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “This sentence reflects the depravity of the defendant’s conduct. We remain committed to stamping out human trafficking in all its forms.”

Two other men, both pastors, have been sentenced for their role in the same trafficking accusations. Kenneth Butler was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison and Cordell Jenkins was sentenced to life in prison. Both Jenkins and Butler pleaded guilty to their roles in a sex trafficking conspiracy involving minors.

According to the Department of Justice and court documents, Haynes, Butler and Jenkins sexually assaulted a girl from 2014 to 2017. The girl was 14 when the assaults began.

The girl was in the custody of Haynes when the abuse began, court documents said. Some of the assaults took place at the Greater Life Christian Center in Toledo, where Haynes was pastor. Haynes recorded the sexual assaults on his cell phone, according to trial testimony and court documents.

According to court documents, Haynes told the 14-year-old that if she said anything about what happened, she would ruin his family and the church. Haynes then facilitated the girl being exploited sexually by other men, including Jenkins, court documents said.

Jenkins then repeatedly sexually exploited the girl at his home on Barrington Drive, at his office at Abundant Life Ministries and at a motel in Toledo, court documents said. Jenkins then paid the girl and referred to his payment as "hush money" and recorded some of these interactions on his cell phone, court documents added.

Haynes and the other pastors were investigated by the FBI's Northwest Ohio Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force, which is made up of members from the FBI, Toledo Police, Perrsyburg Township Police, Lima Police, Oregon Police, Fulton County Sheriff's Office, Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Lucas County Sheriff’s Office.

"This is a well-deserved sentence which reflects the gravity of the sex trafficking and child exploitation crimes committed by this defendant,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith. “The FBI is committed to investigating and holding accountable those engaged in these ruthless acts and will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure justice is served for the victims."