Orphanage founder sentenced to 210 years for sexually abusing boys in his care

DENVER (TCN) -- A 73-year-old Colorado man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for sexually abusing multiple children at an orphanage he founded and operated in Haiti.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced May 23 that Michael Geilenfeld received a sentence of 210 years in prison after a federal jury previously convicted him in February 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.

According to prosecutors, in 1985, Geilenfeld, most recently of Littleton, launched St. Joseph’s Home for Boys, an orphanage for impoverished and "otherwise vulnerable" kids in Haiti. Geilenfeld reportedly operated the orphanage for more than two decades and would travel from the United States to Haiti, where prosecutors said he "sexually abused the boys entrusted to his care."

Many of Geilenfeld’s victims were under the age of 18 during the abuse.

The defendant reportedly "physically and emotionally abused the children in the home, including through physical assault and other forms of punishment."

Six victims testified during the trial and described the "devastating impact it had on them." Witnesses and victims also detailed the "manipulation" tactics Geilenfeld employed to "keep his operation running and financially supported by others."

Jose Perez, the assistant director of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division, said, "For decades, Geilenfeld used his position of trust and access to exploit vulnerable children under the guise of humanitarian work."

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