Pennsylvania priest convicted for child sex tourism, money laundering

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — A priest of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was found guilty after an eight-day jury trial for his sexual abuse of three minor boys in Honduras over a five-year period and for using donated money to fund his exploits. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led the investigation with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation.    

Joseph D. Maurizio Jr., 70, of Central City, Pennsylvania, was convicted of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places, possession of child pornography and international money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 2, 2016, at 10 a.m.

“Investigations of this importance are only possible when each individual agency lends their manpower and expertise to the goal of achieving justice,” added Edward M. Wirth, assistant special agent in charge, IRS - Criminal Investigation. “The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation will continue to provide the financial expertise in these investigations and will readily assist in the analysis of the financial activities of those who violate the laws of our country.”

According to the evidence introduced at trial, the defendant created a charitable organization, known at the time as Honduras Interfaith Ministries (HIM), which was funded by donations from members of the community, including parishioners of Our Lady Queen of Angels Church in Central City. The evidence showed that HIM became the largest donor to Pro Nino, a non-profit organization that provided shelter and rehabilitative services to poor, abandoned and at risk children residing in a rural town outside of San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

The trial evidence further demonstrated that Maurizio often used his position as Pro Nino’s largest donor to gain unfettered access to the boys that lived there.

In addition, the evidence showed that Maurizio used HIM funds to pay for 13 separate trips between the United States and Honduras between 2004 and 2009, during which he sexually abused three minor boys between the ages of 12 and 17.

The government presented evidence that, prior to three of these trips, Maurizio transferred $8,000 from accounts located in the Western District of Pennsylvania to accounts and individuals located in Honduras, and that he used these funds to purchase gifts including clothes, shoes and jewelry that he gave to the minor boys in order to gain their trust and to ensure their compliance during the sexual acts he perpetrated against them. The evidence presented at trial also showed that, during his final trip to Honduras, Maurizio paid two minor boys, ages 14 and 15, to engage in sexual acts with him.

In addition, trial evidence showed that, during a search of the rectory of Our Lady Queen of Angels Church, federal investigators recovered digital media depicting the young boys Maurizio sexually abused and images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

“The jury’s conviction affirms the courage of these victims, the tenacity of the investigators and the resolve of our prosecutors to ensure justice. We remain steadfast in our commitment to protect children from predators here and pursue those who travel beyond our borders to offend. We are especially vigilant where a person uses a position of trust to victimize the most vulnerable among us,” said U.S. Attorney of the Western District of Pennsylvania David J. Hickton.

The investigation was conducted by HSI, IRS-Criminal Investigation in Pittsburgh. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Amy E. Larson of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Haines of the Western District of Pennsylvania.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 10,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2014, more than 2,300 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.