A Connecticut man has been extradited from Spain to face prosecution in this country on a March 2023 indictment charging him with allegedly committing child sex crimes, according to federal authorities.
Kristian Ignacio Feliz, 24, of Danbury, is charged with three counts of sexually exploiting a minor in Kalamazoo County in January, and one count of coercing and enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity, according to U.S. Attorney Mark Totten for the Western District of Michigan.
“I am grateful to the FBI and our Spanish law enforcement partners for their persistent and successful efforts to find and arrest the defendant in Spain, and to facilitate his swift extradition to the United States to face these very serious charges,” Totten said, in a statement. “We are prepared to make our case as part of our ongoing efforts to protect children.”
Spanish Guardia Civil arrested Feliz in June in Barcelona, at the request of the United States, according to federal authorities. Authorities noted that the extradition proceedings took place in the Spanish judiciary system, “through which Feliz consented to be extradited to the United States in August.”
Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI Michigan Field Office said the FBI “prioritizes the protection of children from dangerous predators and is fully committed to investigating criminals, regardless of their location in the world.”
“Those who make the unconscionable decision to victimize innocent children will be brought to justice,” Gibson said, also in a statement.
“The FBI works with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to hold those criminals accountable, and I would like to extend my appreciation to the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety for initiating this case and the Spanish National Police for their support in extraditing the defendant to the United States,” Gibson said.
Capt. Rafael Diaz of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division, said investigating sex crimes that “involve children is extremely difficult to pursue because they cross jurisdictional lines and involve sophisticated computer activity.
“However, the Task Force Officer program that allows Kalamazoo Public Safety Detective Stolsonburg to coordinate with the FBI means that sexual predators will be found and held accountable. This commitment does not waiver,” Diaz said.
Authorities expect the Feliz’s initial appearance will take place Friday at the federal courthouse in Grand Rapids.
The FBI and Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety investigated the case and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Department of State helped to secure Feliz’s arrest and extradition, authorities said.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office “worked with the FBI and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs to prepare and submit a request for Feliz’s provisional arrest, with a plan to seek his extradition soon after,” authorities said. “U.S. Attorney Totten and Special Agent in Charge Gibson extend their appreciation and thanks to Spain’s Ministry of Justice, Spanish National Police, and Guardia Civil.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Castle for the Western District of Michigan prosecuted the case. The case is part of Project Safe Childhood.
The public can report alleged crimes of child sexual and physical abuse by calling 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324), contacting your Legal Attaché Office, or submitting tips online to www.tips.fbi.gov.”
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