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American wanted in US child sex case held in Chiang Mai

Georgealbert
· 602 views

An American man wanted by authorities in the United States over alleged child sex abuse has been arrested at a meditation retreat at a temple in Chiang Mai.

The man, identified by authorities only as Joshua, was detained on September 10 after Thai immigration officers were asked by the FBI's Legal Attaché office at the US Embassy in Bangkok to locate him and arrange his deportation.

FBI request led to Chiang Mai operation

The Immigration Bureau received the request for cooperation on September 8. Joshua was wanted under an arrest warrant issued by a state court in New Hampshire, where he is expected to face further legal proceedings.

Joshua and another alleged accomplice were accused of sexually assaulting several girls aged under 16 before leaving the United States to avoid arrest.

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Thai authorities revoked Joshua's permission to stay in Thailand before beginning efforts to find him, police said.

Immigration officers later learned that he intended to attend a meditation retreat at a temple in Chiang Mai. Undercover officers joined the retreat and monitored his movements, with temple staff cooperating in the operation.

Arrest made during meditation session

On the second day of the officers' participation in the retreat, they confirmed Joshua's identity and arrested him during a meditation session.

Police said Joshua admitted he was the person named in the US arrest warrant.

He was transported to the Bangkok Immigration Detention Centre before deportation under standard procedures. US authorities are expected to send officers to escort him back to New Hampshire.

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Pictures courtesy of Thaitabloid

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12 September 2026

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    wensiensheng Ruby Member

    wensiensheng

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    It’s great that they responded quickly to the request for assistance and got him. That’s commendable.

    I do wonder why they had to mount an undercover operation and infiltrate the meditation session, enlisting the help of the people running it.

    Couldn’t they just walk up to him and ask to see his passport? If it’s him, then arrest him.

    Anyway, it was mission completed and a bad guy is going back to USA to face justice.

    Alls well that ends well.

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    wavodavo Gold Member

    wavodavo

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    9 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

    It’s great that they responded quickly to the request for assistance and got him. That’s commendable.

    I do wonder why they had to mount an undercover operation and infiltrate the meditation session, enlisting the help of the people running it.

    Couldn’t they just walk up to him and ask to see his passport? If it’s him, then arrest him.

    Anyway, it was mission completed and a bad guy is going back to USA to face justice.

    Alls well that ends well.

    The R.T.P. and Immigration departments should be congratulated for their good work rounding up these wanted mongrel criminals after requests from overseas authorities. Well done !!

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    spidermike007 Star Member

    spidermike007

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    This one is a bit of a twist, typically it's the US authorities going after Americans who have had sex with minors in Thailand whereas this guy committed the acts in the US. Legally it's probably about the same thing as Americans are to be held accountable for their actions anywhere in the world when it comes to statutory sex.

    There's so much appeal to women in their early twenties it takes a truly deviant mind to want to go after and abuse women 16 or under. Hopefully he'll get himself a nice 10 year excursion in a state or federal prison in America.

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    wensiensheng Ruby Member

    wensiensheng

    Advanced Member
    11 minutes ago, wavodavo said:

    The R.T.P. and Immigration departments should be congratulated for their good work rounding up these wanted mongrel criminals after requests from overseas authorities. Well done !!

    Yep. I did just that in my post. Commendable work.

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    ronnie50 Platinum Member

    ronnie50

    Advanced Member
    (edited)

    According to an FBI news release, this guy was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison in 2023. Definitely a pedo with a track record. I won't post his last name or the FBI link - if interested google it. You'll need a VPN though. It's not clear to me how, after being sentenced, he was able to flee the country. On appeal maybe? But I thought in the US - after initial sentencing - you could only appeal from your prison cell? Anyway, like others say, good work to catch him.

    Edited by ronnie50
    Correcting a mistake

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    worgeordie Star Member

    worgeordie

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    I hope this Pedo is not MAGA , as he could get pardoned ,which would

    be a travesty after all it took to arrest him ,good job from Thai police and

    FBI , arrested at a meditation retreat ,do you think he was reflecting on

    the crimes he had committed on young girls ...

    regards worgeordie

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    robert2 Senior Member

    robert2

    Member

    Good job by the cops in grabbing this guy before any kids got harmed in Thailand.

    Aussie999 Platinum Member

    Aussie999

    Advanced Member
    (edited)

    Why so many commending the RTP, the FBI gave them the info...bloody hell, I don't mind giving credit, where credit is due, but come on, not in this case. And why the theatrics of going "undercover," just sdk for his passport, they would already have a photo.

    I would like to know if an Interpol Red Notice had been issued.

    Edited by Aussie999

    CNZBoi Apprentice Member

    CNZBoi

    Member
    59 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

    Why so many commending the RTP

    Because they did a good job.

    Just because they may have his name, there was still a lot of work to be done to actually locate him and to be able to set up a sting at a meditation retreat was icing on the cake.

    1 hour ago, Aussie999 said:

    bloody hell, I don't mind giving credit, where credit is due, but come on, not in this case

    Thats your prerogative, but some ppl like to commend ppl when a jobs done well, which in this case it was.

    1 hour ago, Aussie999 said:

    And why the theatrics of going "undercover

    Why does it bother you so much how they did their job,? What they did worked yet you only want to whinge about it!

    OneManShow Silver Member

    OneManShow

    Advanced Member
    On 9/12/2026 at 3:59 AM, Georgealbert said:

    accused of sexually assaulting several girls aged under 16

    If convicted you are finished, never get out.

    ronnie50 Platinum Member

    ronnie50

    Advanced Member

    If it is the guy I found on the FBI press release on his sentencing in 2023, does that mean he's been here all that time?

    off road pat Gold Member

    off road pat

    Advanced Member
    On 9/12/2026 at 5:37 AM, worgeordie said:

    I hope this Pedo is not MAGA , as he could get pardoned ,which would

    be a travesty after all it took to arrest him ,good job from Thai police and

    FBI , arrested at a meditation retreat ,do you think he was reflecting on

    the crimes he had committed on young girls ...

    regards worgeordie

    Only rich criminals get pardoned by Trump !! Very rich ones !!

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    Captain Flack Star Member

    Captain Flack

    Global Moderator

    Bickering posts removed

    Mr Hands Senior Member

    Mr Hands

    Member
    On 9/11/2026 at 11:35 PM, ronnie50 said:

    According to an FBI news release, this guy was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison in 2023. Definitely a pedo with a track record. I won't post his last name or the FBI link - if interested google it. You'll need a VPN though. It's not clear to me how, after being sentenced, he was able to flee the country. On appeal maybe? But I thought in the US - after initial sentencing - you could only appeal from your prison cell? Anyway, like others say, good work to catch him.

    Allegedly, he fled the country before his arrest.

    Again, he allegedly drugged the girls in conjunction with someone named Patrick.

    A few people online have asked why he didn't fly to a country where at least 60 American paedophiles have fled, since 2014.

    ronnie50 Platinum Member

    ronnie50

    Advanced Member
    9 minutes ago, Mr Hands said:

    Allegedly, he fled the country before his arrest.

    Okay. But the FBI press release I found said he was sentenced in (August?) 2023 in the San Diego area. It didn't mention anything about him being in absentia. So maybe it's a different person? Possible, but I doubt it - same full three names.

    Mr Hands Senior Member

    Mr Hands

    Member
    9 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

    Okay. But the FBI press release I found said he was sentenced in (August?) 2023 in the San Diego area. It didn't mention anything about him being in absentia. So maybe it's a different person? Possible, but I doubt it - same full three names.

    You might be looking at the wrong person. There are two people involved. Check your PM inbox.

    ronnie50 Platinum Member

    ronnie50

    Advanced Member
    18 minutes ago, Mr Hands said:

    You might be looking at the wrong person. There are two people involved. Check your PM inbox.

    Thanks. Saw it. I guess it must be because of the dates. Odd coincidence though.

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