An Ashdown, Ark., resident has been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with traveling in foreign commerce with the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.
The suspect is Daniel John Pye, 35, formerly of Ashdown, who allegedly violated Title 18, United States Code, Section 2423(b).
The announcement was made by Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Mark Selby, special agent in charge with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations.
Originally of Bradenton, Fla., Pye traveled from the southern district of Florida to Haiti on multiple occasions from 2008 through 2011 for the alleged purpose of sexually abusing minors, according to allegations made in the criminal complaint.
Pye, who ran a missionary orphanage in Jacmel, Haiti, is alleged to have engaged in illicit sexual conduct with minor female children who resided at his orphanage.
Since leaving Haiti, he is believed to have lived in the Liberty Hill, Texas; Texarkana, Texas; and Ashdown areas.
"Law enforcement encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity to Homeland Security Investigations through the toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing the online tip form at ice.gov/webform/hsi-tip-form," Ferrer said.
Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of ICE-HSI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Widlanski.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Related court documents and information may be found on the District Court for the Southern District of Florida website at flsd.uscourts.gov or on pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.