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Doug Perlitz, a graduate of Fairfield U, talks about his time in Haiti in a 2004... (File)
In one life, Douglas Perlitz was an honored Fairfield University graduate and commencement speaker whose missionary work with Haitian street children was commended as an "inspiration to people of all ages."
In his other life, Perlitz sexually abused at least nine of the Haitian boys he was helping.
That's what a federal grand jury charges in a 10-count indictment returned against Perlitz, 39, a Fairfield resident.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Perlitz at a home in Eagle, Col., early Wednesday. He is being detained in Denver, pending a hearing Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Boyd N. Boland.
The indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Bridgeport charges Perlitz with seven counts of traveling outside the U.S. for the purpose of engaging in sex with minors and three counts of engaging in sexual conduct in foreign places with minors. Each of the charges carries a maximum 30-year prison term and $250,000 fine.
Perlitz is expected to be brought to Connecticut to face the charges before U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven.
In 1997, with a grant from the Order of Malta, a Catholic religious organization, Perlitz established Project Pierre Toussaint in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, which provided schooling, recreation, meals and baths to street boys, as young as 6 years old. The program grew from an intake center to a residential facility called the Village two years later. By 2007, another building called the 14th Street Facility was established as a residential program for high school-age students who Perlitz claimed "needed extra attention."
The indictment alleges that Perlitz used food, shelter, money and gifts -- including cell phones, Walkmen, clothes and other inducements -- to convince disadvantaged children to engage in sexual acts with him. He also withheld these gifts from those who refused to engage in sex, according to the indictment.
In one instance, Perlitz allegedly told a child he could remain in the program even if he failed his classes if he agreed to have sex.
U.S. Attorney Nora Dannehy said the investigation, which began in February, is continuing with the help of Haitian authorities, including the national police. She asked that anyone with information regarding the case to contact the ICE office at 203-773-2029.
Perlitz worked with the Rev. Paul Carrier, who had served as Fairfield University's director of campus ministry and community service.
Carrier frequently traveled to Haiti in support of Perlitz's work. In 2006, it was announced by the Jesuits' New England provincial that he would take a one-year sabbatical in preparation for a new assignment. It is believed that Carrier helped create the Haiti Fund Inc. in 1999, which raised more than $2 million between 2002 and 2008 for Perlitz's programs.
Carrier has not been charged with any crime.
The indictment and arrest of Perlitz caught Fairfield University off guard.
"We had no prior knowledge of it," said Rama Sudhakar, vice president of marketing. "There is no real comment to be made. All we can do is give you some facts."
Perlitz, a 1992 Fairfield University graduate, first visited Haiti during his junior year on a campus ministry mission volunteer trip. He returned five years later after earning a master's degree in theology at Boston College to work as a pastoral minister at Sacre Coeur Hospital in Milot, Haiti.
At the time, the Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, then president of Fairfield University, called Perlitz's work extraordinary and an inspiration to people of all ages.
Sudhakar said the university has had no role in the Haitian school, although several staff members, including Carrier, visited the school often, sometimes with university students. The school awarded Perlitz an honorary degree in 2002. Three years later, Perlitz was honored at a Fairfield University dinner award and was commencement speaker.
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Douglas Perlitz charged with sexually abusing children in Haiti.

September 17th, 2009 - 11:49 pm ICT by BNO News -

Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and John T. Morton, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Bridgeport has returned an Indictment charging a former Fairfield County, Connecticut resident with sexually abusing several boys in Haiti for approximately a decade.
Douglas Perlitz, 39, a resident of Colorado, has been charged 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.
The Indictment was returned on September 15. On the morning of September 16, Perlitz was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at his home in Eagle, Colorado. 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. "I want to acknowledge the diligent work of ICE, the agents involved in the investigation, and members of the State Department 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 Indictment alleges that, in approximately 1997, Perlitz, obtained funding from a religious organization to found Project Pierre Toussaint ("PPT"). Initially, PPT began as an intake center referred to as the 13th Street Intake Program. PPT provided services to children of all ages, most of whom were street children as young as six years of age.
The services provided for the children included meals, sport activity, basic classroom instruction, and access to running water for baths. The staff of the intake center included American volunteers who received a small stipend for their work as well as Haitians who were involved with a variety of day to day operations including teaching, cooking, and driving. PPT continued to expand and, in approximately 1999, a residential facility, Village Pierre Toussaint (referred to as the "Village"), was added. The Village was staffed primarily by Haitians, but Perlitz was directly involved with the Village.
The Indictment further alleges that, in approximately 2007, the 14th Street facility was established, which was a residential program for high-school age children who Perlitz claimed needed extra attention. Perlitz individually chose all of the children who resided at the 14th Street facility, which was a home where adults cared for them. At the 14th Street facility, children were provided with tutors, special cooking arrangements, high-end electronics, and other amenities.
In Haiti, Perlitz resided in the lower floor of a two-story house, referred to as "Bel Air." American volunteers lived on the second floor of the house.
The Indictment further alleges that The Haiti Fund, Inc. was incorporated as a charitable, religious and educational organization in Connecticut, and operated as the fund-raising arm of PPT. The Haiti Fund raised large sums of money through the efforts of a religious leader who asked parishioners for contributions as well as Board Members who regularly attended dinners, cocktail parties, and other events to raise funds for PPT. Funds that were raised on behalf of PPT were transferred to an account in Haiti that Perlitz controlled. Between 2002 and 2008, approximately $2 million was transferred from the Haiti Fund to Perlitz in Haiti.
The Indictment alleges that, over the course of several years, Perlitz had illicit sexual contact with nine boys who attended school at PPT. In order to entice and persuade the children to comply with the sex acts, Perlitz provided the promise of food and shelter and also provided monetary and other benefits, including cash, cell phones, electronics, shoes, clothes, and other items. If minors refused to engage in sex acts, it is alleged that Perlitz would at times withhold benefits or threaten to expel them from the program.
The Indictment alleges that, when Perlitz was questioned by others as to why he permitted minors to sleep in his room at Bel Air, Perlitz attempted to conceal his sexual abuse of the minors by stating that it was common in Haiti for children and adults to sleep together, or he would state that the particular minor was having a lot of difficulty.
The Indictment alleges that Perlitz took steps to control and manipulate the Board of Directors of the Haiti Fund to ensure that he maintained autonomy and control over all of the operations at PPT. Because Perlitz maintained exclusive control over PPT's operations and funding, he made it difficult for volunteers, staff members, or others to question his actions. Perlitz also utilized the fear of unemployment and the difficult economic situation in Haiti to control and prevent the Haitian staff at PPT from coming forward about the allegations of sexual abuse.
Finally, the Indictment alleges that, after allegations of long-term sexual abuse by Perlitz surfaced in approximately 2007, Perlitz used his relationship with a religious leader and influential Board Members to continue to attempt to conceal his illegal sexual conduct by causing others to manipulate, prevent, and preclude Board Members in the United States from questioning any issues relating to Perlitz. As part of the concealment, it is alleged that a letter was sent to donors stating that the accusations against Perlitz were groundless. Also, it alleged that investigators hired by the Board of Directors were denied entry into Perlitz's room at Bel Air, and that two computers and other items from a safe in Perlitz's room were removed and returned to Perlitz in Connecticut.

U.S. Attorney Dannehy and DHS Assistant Secretary Morton stated that this is an ongoing investigation and encouraged anyone with information that may be relevant to the investigation to call ICE in Connecticut at 203-773-2029

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

If convicted, Perlitz faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years and a fine of up to $250,000, on each count of the Indictment.

U.S. Attorney Nora R. Dannehy stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") in New Haven, with the assistance of ICE in Grand Junction, Colorado; ICE International Affairs in Washington, D.C. and the Caribbean Attaché, and the U.S. Department of State, Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Haiti.

U.S. Attorney Dannehy and DHS Assistant Secretary Morton also acknowledged the critical assistance provided by the Haitian National Police Department, the Brigade of Protection of Minors, and the assistance of individuals who have come forward and to provide information to law enforcement.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Krishna R. Patel with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado.

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