TAMPA, Fla. — A Florida man has been sentenced to life in prison for traveling to Vietnam to sexually abuse minors he met online, according to officials.
The U.S. Department of Justice says Christopher Edwin Day, 52, traveled two different times in 2015 and 2016 to Vietnam from Florida to have sexual encounters with minor Vietnamese boys. Court records say he flew back and forth disguising himself as an English teacher.
Some of the boys, according to the DOJ, were lured with promises of money and gifts. Others introduced him as their English teacher.
The Tampa Bay News says Homeland Security investigated the case in Tampa and in Ho Chi Minh City. It was part of Project Safe Childhood, which was an effort to find child sex abuse started in 2006 by the DOJ.
“The laws of the United States will still catch up to child predators who even travel to foreign countries to sexually abuse minor children. Thanks to HSI’s international investigative authorities and strong partnerships, both at HSI Tampa and HSI Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, this sexual predator was stopped from harming more children and his victim will have the justice they deserve,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge John Dumas, according to a news release from said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge John Dumas.
Day pleaded guilty to two counts of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and two counts of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor into illegal sexual activity, according to the DOJ. Day has been sentenced to life in prison.