BOSTON – A Massachusetts man is facing serious federal charges after allegedly exploiting teenage boys while living in Laos. Michael Sebastian, 52, of Lynn, was indicted yesterday on accusations of turning a teaching position into a predatory scheme.
Sebastian has been indicted on three counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places and three counts of sex trafficking of children. He was initially charged via criminal complaint and arrested on July 7, 2020. Following a detention hearing on July 31, 2020, Sebastian was released under conditions of home incarceration at a residence in Ashby. The details emerging from the charging documents paint a disturbing picture.
According to investigators, Sebastian resided in Laos, ostensibly teaching English to local youth. Over at least the past two years, he provided housing to a minimum of three boys, aged 13 to 18, as part of this supposed educational arrangement. But the arrangement wasn’t what it seemed. Instead of financial compensation, Sebastian allegedly allowed the boys to “pay” their rent through performing chores – chores that included providing him with massages which, the indictment alleges, escalated into sexual abuse.
The potential penalties for these crimes are substantial. Engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places carries a maximum sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The sex trafficking charges are even more severe, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years – increasing to 15 years if any of the victims were under 14 – and potentially life in prison, alongside five years of supervised release and another $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine the final sentence based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant factors.
The announcement of the indictment was made jointly by United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Division. Assistance in the investigation also came from the FBI’s Washington D.C. and Bangkok, Thailand Field Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Project Safe Childhood coordinator, and Trial Attorney Leslie Fisher from the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are leading the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 to combat the escalating epidemic of child sexual exploitation. The project aims to coordinate federal, state, and local resources to identify, rescue, and prosecute those who prey on children. Readers can find more information about Project Safe Childhood at www.projectsafechildhood.gov. It’s crucial to remember that the allegations in the charging documents remain just that – allegations. Sebastian is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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