FORMER CONNECTICUT RESIDENT CHARGED WITH SEXUALLY ABUSING CHILDREN IN HAITI

18 September 2009

2009/63

Mr. Douglas Perlitz 39, resident of Colorado, has been accused of sexually abusing several boys in Haiti for approximately a decade.  He has been charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with seven counts of traveling outside of the United States with the intent to engage in sexual conduct with individuals under the age of 18, and three counts of engaging in sexual conduct in foreign places with persons under the age of 18.  PERLITZ was the founder and director of Project Pierre Toussaint, a boys school in Cap-Haitien, Haiti.

PERLITZ was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at his home in Eagle, Colorado on the morning of September 16.  Following his arrest, he appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Boyd N. Boland in Denver and has been detained pending a detention hearing that is scheduled for September 18 in Denver.

 “This defendant is alleged to have used his position of power to manipulate and sexually abuse vulnerable boys for nearly a decade,” U.S. Attorney Dannehy stated.  “His arrest was made possible  due to the diligent work of ICE, the agents involved in the investigation, and agents of the U.S. State Department Diplomatic Security Service assigned to our Embassy in Haiti.  This case would not have been brought without their coordinated efforts, the resources they have devoted, and their commitment to seeing that justice is done.”

“Sex tourism victims are particularly vulnerable to predators who lure them with promises of the most basic of human needs then rob them of their innocence,” said Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for ICE Morton. “There will be no refuge for child sexual predators who believe that they may victimize children outside the United States.  No place is too distant or too remote to escape the attention of U.S. law enforcement.”

The United States Embassy in Port-au-Prince, has established a telephone hotline for individuals in Haiti to call with information relevant to the investigation.  The number is:  3923-2534.

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