Vietnam-US cooperation to convict child sex tourism criminals

April 13, US Embassy in Vietnam information on law enforcement cooperation between the United States and Vietnam in the sentencing of child sex tourism criminals.

Accordingly, on March 31, 2022, American citizen Paul Bodner, a substitute teacher, was sentenced in the Court of the Northern District of California, USA to 11 years in federal prison with three crimes. Travel with the intention of performing illegal sex acts” and once committed the crime of “Performing illegal sex acts abroad” for the following acts: sexual abuse conducted by the subject with underage Vietnamese boys in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Office of Homeland Security Investigations at the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City has successfully completed the investigation in collaboration with the San Francisco International Airport Homeland Security Investigations Office and the Department of Homeland Security. Vietnam police.

Between 2010 and 2019, Bodner made annual trips to Vietnam with the stated purpose of meeting underage boys. In an interview at the US border gate when he returned from Vietnam at the end of 2016, Bodner admitted he was attracted to boys, but denied having sexual contact with boys. until they reach adulthood.

Homeland Security Investigations in Ho Chi Minh City verified, located, and interviewed a series of juvenile boys who were abused by Bodner. Many of the boys shared similar stories that Bodner used the pseudonym “Kevin” to befriend them at a local sports complex, inviting them over to play in their room. the subject’s hotel.

Here, the subject took pictures and abused the children. Subject used money and gifts to buy their loyalty and silence in order to avoid detection and prosecution.

In January 2020, Bodner was indicted by a grand jury, and was subsequently arrested and ordered to search his residence in the San Francisco Bay area the following month.

During the criminal proceedings, analysis of Bodner’s messages and social media communications with the victim indicated that the subject intentionally forged evidence and encouraged the witness to lie about their age. Ultimately, the subject pleaded guilty to four of the above offenses in June 2021.

“This case is an unfortunate wake-up call that child sex predators continue to target vulnerable populations in Vietnam and other countries in the region with the belief that the source of the abuse is not true. Potential perpetrators and their distance from the US criminal justice system will allow them to evade prosecution,” said Acting Consul General Robert Greenan.

“Fortunately, law enforcement officers now have a global connection and, through their dedication and cooperation with international partners in this case, the Homeland Security Investigations The land was able to bring justice back to the young victims,” ​​Greenan added.

The Homeland Security Investigations Agency is the main investigative force under the Department of Homeland Security Americaand plays a pivotal role in combating criminal organizations that illegally exploit America’s systems for travel, commerce, finance, and immigration.

The Homeland Security Investigations Agency is also a global pioneer in combating crimes of child sexual exploitation. With more than 200 domestic offices in the United States and 80 representative offices abroad, federal criminal agents with the Homeland Security Investigations Agency have the ability to follow a case anywhere in the world. related projects.