What was once seen as a beacon of hope for vulnerable children in Haiti has now been fully exposed as a place of unimaginable harm.
Michael Karl Geilenfeld, a 73-year-old man from Littleton, Colorado, was sentenced to 210 years in prison for sexually abusing multiple children at the orphanage he founded and ran for decades in Haiti.
This case has shaken those who believed in his so-called humanitarian mission.
It also brought long-awaited justice to victims who carried the weight of silence and trauma for years.
A Shelter Turned Into a Site of Abuse
Geilenfeld founded St. Joseph’s Home for Boys in 1985.
It was presented as a sanctuary for orphaned and impoverished boys — children who had nowhere else to go.
But behind closed doors, the very man they trusted used his authority to repeatedly abuse them.
Over a span of more than 20 years, Geilenfeld traveled from the United States to Haiti regularly.
During those trips, he didn’t just run the orphanage — he preyed on the boys who lived there, many of them already emotionally and physically vulnerable.
Evidence presented in court revealed a disturbing pattern of sexual abuse, physical assault, and emotional manipulation.
Six Survivors Take the Stand
In February 2025, a federal jury convicted Geilenfeld on seven separate counts, including one count of traveling abroad to engage in illicit sexual conduct and six counts involving individual child victims between 2005 and 2010.
Six of those victims courageously testified in court, each detailing the disturbing abuse they suffered.
Their stories were backed up by other adults who had also lived at the orphanage and experienced similar horrors.
They described how Geilenfeld maintained control through fear, punishment, and psychological manipulation, all while keeping up the appearance of a compassionate caregiver.
Authorities Condemn the Crimes
Officials involved in the investigation and prosecution didn’t hold back in their statements after the sentencing.
Matthew Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, said, “The defendant’s sustained sexual, physical, and emotional abuse of some of the most vulnerable children in the world is intolerable.”
He emphasized the department’s commitment to bringing justice to victims — no matter where the crime occurred.
FBI Assistant Director Jose A. Perez also noted how Geilenfeld exploited his position of trust for years, calling the case a triumph of survivor bravery and investigator persistence.
A Decades-Long Deception Uncovered
The level of deceit in this case is staggering.
While donors and volunteers believed they were supporting a noble cause, Geilenfeld used their money and goodwill to maintain access to his victims.
Authorities say his entire operation was sustained through financial support from people who had no idea what was really happening inside the orphanage walls.
The abuse wasn’t limited to one period.
It spanned years and generations of children, many of whom are still coming to terms with the trauma.
The Team That Brought Him Down
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI.
Trial Attorneys Jessica Urban and Eduardo Palomo from the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Lacee Monk from the Southern District of Florida, prosecuted the case.
Their efforts were part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation.
The project brings together federal, state, and local resources to pursue those who harm children — especially those who attempt to hide their crimes overseas.
Justice, Finally Served
For the survivors of Geilenfeld’s abuse, this sentencing may never erase the pain.
But it marks a critical moment of recognition and accountability.
The man who once portrayed himself as a savior of lost children will now spend the rest of his life behind bars — never again able to harm another child.
This case is also a sobering reminder: even those who seem to be doing good can hide unthinkable crimes.
It’s a call to stay vigilant and to always listen to the voices of survivors — no matter how long it takes them to speak out.