San Jose man sentenced to 8 years in prison for child sex tourism and obstruction of justice
SAN FRANCISCO – A San Jose man was sentenced Thursday to eight years in prison after being convicted of child sex tourism charges and attempted witness tampering, following a probe by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Michael Lindsay, 56, was convicted by a federal jury after a four-day trial. The jury found that Lindsay traveled from San Francisco to the Philippines intending to have sex with a 13-year-old girl. He used instant messaging to communicate with the girl’s mother and arrange meetings with the minor. During trips to Manila in May and August of 2012, Lindsay had sex with the girl and paid her mother following those meetings. HSI arrested Lindsay Nov. 8, 2012, at San Francisco International Airport when he attempted to return to the Philippines for another visit.
“It is a crime under United States law for a United States citizen to travel to foreign places intending to engage in illicit sexual conduct, and it is a crime to engage in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places,” said U.S. Attorney Brian J. Stretch. “Sex tourism is a dangerous and insidious industry. Today’s sentence serves as a reminder that U.S. law reaches and punishes those who, like the defendant, exploit the poverty and vulnerability of young children in order to engage in illicit sexual conduct.”
“This sentence has brought accountability for the heinous actions of the defendant,” said Ryan L. Spradlin, special agent in charge of HSI San Francisco. “Sex tourism is a cruel global underground industry. HSI will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to pursue anyone who seeks to exploit innocent victims through this crime.”
On Dec. 13, 2012, a grand jury indicted Lindsay for traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places and engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. Email communications established that after a federal grand jury charged him, Lindsay engaged in attempted witness tampering and obstruction of justice. On Feb. 9, a federal grand jury returned a second superseding indictment, adding charges of attempted witness tampering and obstruction of justice.
The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer and Lindsay began serving it immediately.
This investigation was conducted under the auspices of HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 14,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2015, nearly 2,400 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.
Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.
For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI's Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Vartain and Katherine Wawryzniak prosecuted the case.
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