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USA Today
26-05-2025
- USA Today
Colorado man sentenced to 210 years in prison for abusing children at orphanage
Colorado man sentenced to 210 years in prison for abusing children at orphanage A Colorado man who founded a Haitian orphanage four decades ago is set to spend the rest of his life in prison after he was convicted of sexually, physically, and emotionally abusing multiple children under his organization's care. Michael Karl Geilenfeld, 73, of Littleton, was sentenced to 210 years in prison after a federal jury found him guilty of several counts committed at the St. Joseph's Home for Boys in the Caribbean, the Department of Justice announced on May 23. He was arrested in Colorado back in January 2024. Geilenfeld was convicted last February of one count of traveling in foreign commerce with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, as well as six counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place, the Justice Department confirmed in a news release. Each of the six counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct relates to six separate victims who were children at the orphanage between 2005 and 2010. All six victims, now adults, testified against Geilenfeld as well as other former child victims who were not subject to the related charges. "For decades, Geilenfeld used his position of trust and access to exploit vulnerable children under the guise of humanitarian work," FBI Assistant Director Jose A. Perez said in a news release. "We are grateful to those victims who came forward to report their abuse. The FBI is committed to pursuing those who commit crimes against children no matter where they occur or how long ago they were committed." USA TODAY reached out to attorneys listed as Geilenfeld's representatives for comment. 'Abuse of some of the most vulnerable children in the world is intolerable' In 1985, Geilenfeld founded the St. Joseph's Home for Boys, which he operated for more than 20 years, according to the Justice Department. He repeatedly traveled back and forth from the U.S to Haiti, where he sexually abused the children at the orphanage entrusted to his care, prosecutors said. Geilenfeld also physically and emotionally abused the children in the home through physical assault and other forms of punishment, prosecutors said. Victims and witnesses testified that Geilenfeld implemented manipulation tactics to ensure his orphanage was financially supported. "The defendant's sustained sexual, physical, and emotional abuse of some of the most vulnerable children in the world is intolerable," said Matthew Galeotti, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. How to protect minors from sexual abuse: The predator is usually someone you know Victims detailed abuse during court testimonies One of the men who testified in the case said he was 12 years old when Geilengeld abused him, the Miami Herald reported. The man testified that Geilenfeld brought him into his bedroom so he could "help him learn a prayer" but instead proceeded to sit him down in a chair, kiss him on the mouth, fondle his genitals and tried to have sexual relations with him, according to the Miami Herald. Geilenfeld reportedly operated multiple orphanages in Haiti until 2014 and opened another one in the Dominican Republic, the Miami Herald reported. In 2019, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents found photos of the victims when Geilenfeld was traveling through Miami International Airport to the Dominican Republic, court records obtained by USA TODAY show. Investigators told the judge some of the photos showed victims in the indictment, which they said Geilenfeld planned to use to "intimidate victims to not testify against him." It's unclear whether the photos were sexually explicit. Contributing: Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
He Founded an Orphanage for Vulnerable Boys in Haiti — and Was Just Sentenced to 210 Years for What He Did
Michael Geilenfeld was sentenced to 210 years in federal prison for sexually abusing children at the Haitian orphanage he founded Six victims testified about enduring sexual and physical abuse during his trial Authorities praised the survivors' courage and the investigators' dedication in bringing Geilenfeld to justice.A Colorado man was sentenced to 210 years in federal prison for sexually abusing children at an orphanage he founded in Haiti. Michael Karl Geilenfeld, 73, founded St. Joseph's Home for Boys in 1985 and operated the home for more than two decades. The home was created for orphaned, impoverished and otherwise vulnerable children in Haiti, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release. At the trial, six victims who lived at the orphanage testified about the sexual abuse and physical assault they suffered at the hands of Geilenfeld. Now adults, the victims spoke about the devastating impact the abuse had on them, according to the release. 'The defendant's sustained sexual, physical, and emotional abuse of some of the most vulnerable children in the world is intolerable,' Matthew Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, said in a statement. Additional alleged victims testified during Geilenfeld's trial, but prosecutors say he was only charged for the abuse of the six victims. Geilenfeld was arrested in Littleton, Colo., in January 2024, according to the release. In February 2025, a federal jury convicted him of one count of traveling in foreign commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct and six counts of engaging in illicit conduct in a foreign place between 2005 and 2010. 'This sentencing marks the end of a case built on the courage of survivors and the dedication of investigators,' Jose A. Perez, Assistant Director of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division, said in a statement. 'For decades, Geilenfeld used his position of trust and access to exploit vulnerable children under the guise of humanitarian work. We are grateful to those victims who came forward to report their abuse,' Perez operated several orphanages in Haiti and also opened another in the Dominican Republic, according to the Miami Herald. "He ran a kingdom down there. It was just terrible," Paul Kendrick, a man who made accusations of abuse against Geilenfeld, told CBS. "Does this (conviction) make all the abuse go away for the victims? Of course not. But it does give these guys a sense of dignity." If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to . If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Yahoo
Colorado man convicted of abusing boys at Haitian orphanage
DENVER (KDVR) — A Colorado man was convicted of sexually abusing boys at an orphanage he founded in Haiti. The U.S. Department of Justice said a federal jury in Miami convicted 73-year-old Michael Karl Geilenfeld of Littleton. The department said Geilenfeld founded St. Joseph's Home for Boys, a home for orphaned and impoverished children in Haiti, in 1985. Former Douglas County teacher arrested on charges including kidnapping During his more than two decades of operation, the justice department said Geilenfeld would travel between the U.S. and Haiti and would sexually abuse the boys in his care. On Thursday, the Miami jury convicted Geilenfeld of one count of traveling in foreign commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct and six counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place, between 2005 and 2010. The justice department said the six victims testified about the sexual abuse they suffered. Four other victims testified, but they were not the subject of the charged offenses. Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather Geilenfeld will be sentenced on May 5 and could face a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for the seven counts. The justice department said this case was part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
