He founded a orphanage for vulnerable boys in Haiti – and was just sentenced to 210 years for what he did

A Colorado -man was sentenced to 210 years in federal prison for sexually abusing children in an orphanage that he founded on Haiti.

Michael Karl Geilenfeld, 73, founded St. Joseph’s Home for Boys in 1985 and drove the home for more than two decades. The home was created for orphans, poor and otherwise vulnerable children in Haiti, according to one US Justice Department News notice.

At the trial, six victims who lived in the orphanage testified about sexual abuse and physical abuse as they suffered in the hands of Geilenfeld. Now adults, the victims talked about the devastating effect that the abuse had on them, according to the release.

“The defendant’s lasting sexual, physical and emotional abuse of some of the most vulnerable children in the world is unacceptable,” said Matthew Galeotti, head of the Ministry of Justice’s criminal department, in a statement.

Further alleged victims testified during Geilenfeld’s trial, but prosecutors say he was only accused of abuse of the six victims.

Geilenfeld was arrested in Littleton, Colo., In January 2024, according to the publication. In February 2025, a federal jury convicted him of a bill to travel in foreign trade in order to conduct illegal sexual behavior and six bills to conduct illegal behavior in a foreign place between 2005 and 2010.

“This penalty marks the end of a case based on surviving courage and investigators’ commitment,” said Jose A. Perez, Deputy Director of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division, in a statement.

“For decades, Geilenfeld used his position of trust and access to exploit vulnerable children under costume of humanitarian work. We are grateful to the victims who came to report their abuse,” Perez added.

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Geilenfeld ran several orphanages in Haiti and also opened another in the Dominican Republic, according to Miami Herald.

“He ran a kingdom down there. It was only terrible,” Paul Kendrick, a man who accused abuse against Geilenfeld, told CBS. “Do this (conviction) do that all abuse disappears for the victims? Of course not. But it gives these guys a sense of dignity.”

If you or someone you know has been attacked sexually, please contact the national hotline for sexual abuse of 1-800-656-Hope (4673) or go to rainn.org.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “strength” to the crisis text line of 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis adviser.