NJ Millionaire to Stand Trial For International Child Sex Tourism

FoxNews ^ | July 15th, 2007 | AP

[shield]

PHILADELPHIA — Seven years ago, Russian courts convicted a wealthy American motel owner of molesting children, sent him to prison, then expelled him from the country.

The experience did little to keep Anthony "Mark" Bianchi stateside. Over the next few years, U.S. officials allege, he traveled to Moldova, Romania, Cambodia and Cuba to recruit destitute boys for sexual trysts.

Bianchi, 44, of North Wildwood, N.J., faces trial beginning Monday under a controversial federal law aimed at thwarting "sex tourism." He is accused in this country of committing crimes -- assaulting nearly a dozen minors -- on foreign soil.

More than 50 cases have been brought under what's known as the Protect Act, and more than 30 of the defendants have been convicted, the Justice Department says.

So far, however, only one federal appeals court -- the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals -- has reviewed the law, upholding it in a 2-1 ruling. The U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear an appeal of that decision.

[mtbopfuyn]

Monsters like that don’t deserve a new rope.

[krb]

I am not sure I like the power grabbed by our justice system with this sort of law. What’s the difference between this law and another country passing laws claiming jurisdiction over actions taken in our country?

To combat child abuse, can’t we negotiate extradition treaties with countries where these crimes are happening?

[shield]

Sicko...only a double tap the head will cure ‘em.

[darkangel82]

All they can get him on is conspiracy to commit a felony, which should get 5 to 10 years, although he deserves to hang.

[TheRealDBear]

Russia expelled him instead of executed him? They’re slippin’ over there.

[krb]

Sure, but why can’t we extradite him to the country where he molested the children?

[expatguy]

I have to agree with you - the allegations are horrible - but US courts dont have jurisdiction over the planet.

If that is the case then come and arrest me for purchasing Cuban cigars overseas

[shield]

I’m hot and cold with these laws. However, these perverts flying to countries to have sex with these kids is sickening.

[krb]

And George Bush plotting to take over the world is sickening to people at The Hague.

[Zevonismymuse]

However, these perverts flying to countries to have sex with these kids is sickening.

Obviously it is a sickening and vile crime. But we need to be careful about our willingness to compromise our own freedom in order to punish these creeps.

[shield]

Is that’s what he’s doing? Oh boy...The Hague...give me a break...

[shield]

I agree...

[krb]

I think you are missing my point.

[ndt]

"If that is the case then come and arrest me for purchasing Cuban cigars overseas"

Don't say that too loud, because that actually is illegal. You as a citizen are banned from trading with Cuba, where you do it is not taken into account otherwise you could just go to Cuba.

It really is a bad precedent, but it was set long before this "protect" act.

[expatguy]

oh so how about a US citizen going to Amsterdam and smoking a marijuana cigarette or an American citizen living overseas who has two legal wives - I know Malaysia and Indonesia allow a man to have four wives.

[ndt]

"oh so how about a US citizen going to Amsterdam..."

Hey man you're preaching to the choir. I don't think any country has jurisdiction outside their borders except as specifically outlined in a treaty.

What I think "is right" and "what is" often are not the same thing.

[expatguy]

oh and btw the Cuban cigars are all smoked up - so the evidence is gone

[Shots]

"You as a citizen are banned from trading with Cuba, Correct but we are not prohibited from buying a Cuban cigar in Santa Domingo and smoking it there, nor are we banned from smoking opium in Bangkok if we want because they are legal there.

[Thebaddog]

Y’all are missing the point. If his party affiliation wasn't mentioned in the first part of the article or not at all, he is a democrat.

[ndt]

"Correct but we are not prohibited from buying a Cuban cigar in Santa Domingo and smoking it there, nor are we banned from smoking opium in Bangkok if we want because they are legal there."

Only because of selective enforcement. You are still breaking the law. The embargo is on trade with Cuba. It does not matter if that is in the U.S. in Cuba or in Mexico.

[Shots]

"You are still breaking the law."

No you aren't. It is legal to sell Cuban cigars in Santa Domingo and elsewhere. In addition you not dealing with the Cubans either you are buying a product that is legal to sell and consume in that country, just as it is legal to smoke opium in other countries where the US can not touch you. That is of course assuming you are doing something that is legal in another country yet if you break one of their laws well that is a whole new issue. Just for clarification I am talking a civilian not a person who is in the military and who is under government control which civilians are not. In this case the man broke laws in other countries there in lies the difference.

[ndt]

"It is legal to sell Cuban cigars in Santa Domingo and elsewhere."

It's legal to sell them but it is illegal for an American to buy them

[Aaron0617]

posted here earlier under a different title ~ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1866321/posts

[Shots]

"It's legal to sell them but it is illegal for an American to buy them"

No it is not illegal to buy them. You can buy them and consume them outside the US but you cannot import them. If you check the PDF file your last link used as a source guess what nowhere in it are cigars mentioned. Hell everyone knows that when Kennedy got ready to impose the embargo he himself had boxes bought up for his own stash and use after the embargo went into effect.

"Since President Kennedy placed an embargo on Cuba in 1963, Cuban cigars have been illegal to import. One little known fact is that JFK had one of his assistants go to Cuba and bring back a large supply of the Cubans before the embargo took effect so that he would have them for his own personal use."

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Find-And-Buy-Quality-Cuban-Cigars&id=345648

[ndt]

Will you accept the U.S. Dpt. of Treasury as an authoritative source?

Person Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States The universe which must comply with OFAC regulations. It includes American citizens and permanent resident aliens wherever they are located; individualsandentities located intheUnitedStates(includingall foreign branches, agencies, rep offices, etc.); corporations organized under U.S. law, including foreign branches; and (under TWEA based sanctions) entities owned or controlled by any of the above, the most important being foreign-organized subsidiaries of U.S. corporations"

...

"o TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING PROPERTY IN WHICH CUBA OR A CUBAN NATIONAL HAS AN INTEREST - In addition to the prohibitions on exports to and imports from Cuba, the Regulations prohibit any person subject to U.S. jurisdiction from dealing in any property in which Cuba or a Cuban national has an interest. Under the Regulations, "property" includes but is not limited to contracts and services. For example, unless otherwise authorized, persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction (including U.S. overseas subsidiaries) may not purchase Cuban cigars in Mexico; may not sign a contract with a U.K. firm if the contract terms include Cuba- related provisions (even if those provisions are contingent upon the lifting of the embargo); and may not provide accounting, marketing, sales, or insurance services to a Cuban company or to a foreign company with respect to the foreign company's Cuba- related business."
B

source

[ndt]

Sorry, my link was bad try this one

[killjoy]

nor are we banned from smoking opium in Bangkok if we want because they are legal there.

Possession of opium in Bangkok will get you about 10 years in Klong Prem Prison, one of the worst in the world. It is most definitely NOT legal.

[killjoy]

American citizen living overseas who has two legal wives - I know Malaysia and Indonesia allow a man to have four wives.

The problem isn't multiple wives, it is multiple mother-in-laws.

[Palladin]

I thought the Mafia took care of their gumbahs who behaved like this.

[weegee]

As Kinky Friedman says, you aren’t supporting Castro’s economy, you’re burning his crops. < /s >

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping.

[Calpernia]

Not the same case; but a related thread to give people background on the Sex Tourism industry

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/1472612/posts

[Shots]

If that is the case now I stand corrected. I was not aware they changed their laws. I know though back in its hay day opium parlors lined some streets in places but that was over 50 years ago. Never the less saying it is illegal is not correct check the Internet and you will find it is legal for villagers to possess it but not sell it. In other words it is for their use only. read the last paragraph on this page

http://www.indigoguide.com/thailand/drugs.htm

[HamiltonJay]

Britain has similar laws.

Citizenship has conditions, its not a grab at jurisdiction over acts on foreign soil, its jurisdiction over a citizen of your nation.

IF you are a citizen of Britain, (or the US, which passed these sorts of laws after Britain) and engage in sexual acts with children, even while overseas, you have violated the law.

If you renounce your citizenship, then I would suspect the US/Britain would have no claims to your actions overseas.

[-=SoylentSquirrel=-]

You raise an interesting point.

I am going to Amsterdam in a few weeks, and plan on eating/smoking/ingesting all manner of cannabis related products in the short time I will be there. Like, for reals: no brownie will be safe once within my purview.

Am I breaking U.S. laws by doing this? I have never heard of a precedent.

Of course, I would never eat/smoke/ingest any cannabis product while in the U.S., as that would be illegal.

[killjoy]

Never the less saying it is illegal is not correct check the Internet and you will find it is legal for villagers to possess it but not sell it. In other words it is for their use only. read the last paragraph on this page

Yes, it is illegal. Whether the laws are enforced in some of the hill tribe areas is a different story. Try getting caught in Bangkok with it and see what happens to you. Go directly to jail. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.

[chuckles]

I know us here at FR are all into law and order, but in my wildest fantasies, I dream of a “Star Chamber” that puts out contracts on this type of scum and they wake up dead tomorrow. Just think of how efficient, cheap, and fast justice could be dealt out, if we didn’t have all the red tape of a legal system. OJ wouldn’t be on the golf course, Manson would just be a footnote of history, Sadr would be missing in action, etc.

Of course there's always the problem of who's votes gets counted. If some get their way, Limbaugh, Hanity, and probably me after awhile, would get "voted" out.

[Shots]

Read the last paragraph of the link I posted you can not be that daft as not being able to read it. It clearly states it is legal in those areas. Now go directly to jail and do not pass go do not collect 200.00.

Opium smoking in the hill-tribe villages in north Thailand is quite common. It is legal for the villagers to possess and use opium, but it is illegal for them to sell it.

http://www.indigoguide.com/thailand/drugs.htm

[jude24]

It's legal to sell them but it is illegal for an American to buy them

About.com is not a valid source of legal information.

[tioga]

And George Bush plotting to take over the world is sickening to people at The Hague.

W isn't plotting any such thing.

[krb]

Tell that to the people who want jurisdiction over him.

[stellarfreedom]

“I am going to Amsterdam in a few weeks, and plan on eating/smoking/ingesting all manner of cannabis related products in the short time I will be there.”

That is perfectly legal. People are misunderstanding the statutes involved here. The homosexual pervert is being prosecuted because he raped many many young children. That is a sick crime that devastates foreign cultures. Rich homosexuals have been doing this for decades and the AIDS epidemic is one result. Whereas if you smoke some legal marijuana in Amsterdam, you are perfectly within your rights. Who is the victim?

[killjoy]

Read the last paragraph of the link I posted you can not be that daft as not being able to read it. It clearly states it is legal in those areas.

Have you been to the areas you are talking about? I have, quite regularly.

P.S. I live in Thailand.

[killjoy]

That is a sick crime that devastates foreign cultures.

Quite condescending. Those 'foreign cultures' are perfectly capable of policing themselves without the help of US laws.

[Shots]

"Have you been to the areas you are talking about? I have, quite regularly."

Yes I made that very clear when I stated that was over 50 years ago. My point is that while now in Bangkok it is illegal when I was there it was not and the referenced site states you are wrong when it comes to certain areas because they clearly state in those areas it is legal for them to have and use it but not to sell it. If you still have a problem, then kindly take it up with the sites that are stating it is legal in those areas and not me

[killjoy]

My point is that while now in Bangkok it is illegal when I was there it was not and the referenced site states you are wrong when it comes to certain areas because they clearly state in those areas it is legal for them to have and use it but not to sell it.

Since you didn't understand the first time. I live in Thailand. I was up in Mae Hong Son two weeks ago. I don't need to get my information third hand from a website. I know very well what the situation there is.

[Shots]

Really if you are so aware of the area why are you denying it is legal there? By there I mean the remote areas of Thailand.

[killjoy]

Really if you are so aware of the area why are you denying it is legal there?

I am friends with a lot of the guys in Narcotic Suppression Division who go into these areas and destroy crops. I know very well what the legal status is. Your website is wrong.