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Former Teacher From Massachusetts Pleads Guilty To Sexually Exploiting Children In Laos

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A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty Wednesday to engaging in sexual acts with three minors in Laos.

According to court documents, Michael Sebastian, 56, of Lynn, taught English to impoverished children in Laos. While teaching children there, Sebastian allowed certain students to live with him in his apartment, and they had to pay “dues.”

Students who were unable to pay their dues performed “chores” around the house to earn credit towards their dues payments. One of the “chores” was giving Sebastian a massage while he was naked.

Between May 2018 and September 2019, in the course of these massages, Sebastian engaged and attempted to engage in sexual acts with three minors who lived with him.

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Sebastian pleaded guilty to three counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 28, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 90 years in prison and lifetime supervised release.

Additionally, he will be required to pay restitution to his victims and to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts, Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Boston Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.

Trial Attorneys Nadia Prinz and Eduardo Palomo of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti for the District of Massachusetts are prosecuting the case.

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