Moldova, Moldova, Republic of
Defendant(Anthony Mark Bianchi) was first taken into federal custody in this matter on January 11, 2006. The initial Indictment, filed on January 12, 2006, charged him with various offenses arising out of his travel to Eastern Europe, where he allegedly had illicit sexual relations with two underage boys and attempted to seduce a third. According to the Indictment, Defendant’s modus operandi was to have his co-conspirator and translator, Ion Gusin, introduce him to the boys. He would shower them with gifts and treats to induce them to engage in illicit sexual relations and then compensate them in United States dollars.
Location
Moldova, Republic of · Moldova · 2007 (location generalized to protect survivors)
Response & intervention
On January 12, 2006, Bianchi was charged in a six count federal indictment with Child Sex Tourism violations. On May 4, 2006, Bianchi was charged in a superseding indictment with an additional 8 counts of Child Sex Tourism violations as a result of additional victims being identified. Ten of Bianchi’s young victims came to the U.S. to share their story with an American jury.
This conviction was the culmination of an extensive investigation by ICE. Bianchi was charged with Child Sex Tourism violations under the Protect Act. Moldovan authorities arrested a Moldovan codefendant(Ion Gusin) with the assistance of the ICE Attaché Vienna. He was charged with trafficking in persons violations and is currently incarcerated in Moldova.
ICE Victim Witness Coordinators played a crucial role in fostering a secure and comfortable environment for these young me who were testifying whne they came to the united states.
Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don't have a verifiable source on file yet — use “Report a problem” below to add one.