Man arrested under child sex tourism charge

In total income of Thailand Tourism prostitution plays a very significant part and and child sex in no exception despite the tight clutches of law. A Santa Barbara man, Michael Patrick Mahoney, has been charged with advertising on Craigslist for a guide who would help him find children to have sex with in Thailand.

Michael was arrested Saturday by federal agents at Los Angeles International Airport after he boarded a flight for Bangkok. He was carrying children’s stuffed animals, Disneyland shirts and chocolates. The investigation into Mahoney had already begun a week before after his ad on the Craigslist Web site was noticed by the immigration officials. They had an undercover agent posed as a travel guide and sent an e-mail offering to arrange meetings with children. Michael fell into their trap and was arrested.

Mahoney had his bond set at $100,000 Monday in federal court in Los Angeles. The 51-year-old faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of a child sex tourism charge.