A Colorado man who founded an orphanage in Haiti has been sentenced to 210 years in federal prison for abusing children under his care. Michael Karl Geilenfeld, 73, established the St. Joseph’s Home for Boys in 1985, which was intended to house orphaned and vulnerable children in Haiti.
Over two decades, Geilenfeld repeatedly traveled from the U.S. to Haiti, where he engaged in abusive behavior targeting the boys in the orphanage, according to the Department of Justice. A federal jury convicted him in February 2025 of seven counts related to his conduct between 2005 and 2010. Each count corresponds to a different victim who was a minor at the time of the offense.
During the trial, survivors testified to the harm they endured, describing in detail the physical and emotional abuse Geilenfeld inflicted. Prosecutors revealed that Geilenfeld kept a dossier containing images of his victims, discovered by U.S. Customs agents in 2019 during international travel.
Justice Department officials praised the bravery of the survivors. “This sentencing marks the end of a case built on the courage of survivors and the dedication of investigators,” said Assistant Director Jose Perez of the FBI. “Geilenfeld used his position of trust and access to exploit vulnerable children under the guise of humanitarian work.”
Following abuse allegations, the St. Joseph’s Home for Boys was shut down in 2014. Geilenfeld later relocated to the Dominican Republic, where he attempted to continue his activities by opening another children’s home.
The U.S. government emphasized its commitment to prosecuting Americans who commit crimes against children abroad, regardless of where or when the offenses occurred.
