Evangelical compound visited by federal, county authorities suspicious of child welfare.

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The Tony Alamo compound on Sierra
Highway was visited this morning by FBI agents and
officials from the LA County Department of Child and Family Services, assisted
by sheriff’s deputies.

Stuart Riskin, spokesman for DCFS, could only confirm that
the visit was made and could not offer any information as to whether any
children were taken into protective custody or if any arrests were made due to
confidentiality issues.

Tony Alamo’s September booking photo/AP

The visit is part of an ongoing investigation by the FBI. The
agency served two search warrants on Alamo’s compound in
Fouke, Arkansas
on September 20, looking for evidence of physical and sexual abuse against children.
Six children, all of them young girls, were taken into protective custody.

An arrest warrant was issued for Tony Alamo, who was
reportedly traveling to California
at the time. The 74-year old convicted tax evader was arrested Sept. 25 as he
left a resort on Flagstaff, Arizona
on suspicion of violating the Mann Act.

Also this morning, a judge in Arkansas
has unsealed a federal indictment that includes eight new charges against Alamo.
The 74-year old is in custody awaiting trial on two charges of  taking children across state lines for sex.
The eight new counts involve four new victims. All 10 victims are young girls
under the age of 18.

Since September, Arkansas
child welfare officials have taken 26 children associated with Alamo’s
ministries into protective custody because of alleged beatings and sexual
abuse. No children were taken from the Saugus
compound.