PENNSYLVANIA
Tribune-Review
By Richard Gazarik
Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014
A Somerset County priest whose home and church office was raided by federal agents was arrested Thursday on charges of child sexual exploitation, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The Rev. Joseph Maurizio, 69, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Central City, remains in custody until he is faces a detention hearing in federal court in Pittsburgh on Monday, said ICE spokesman Khaalid Walls.
The Altoona-Johnstown Archdiocese suspended Maurizio indefinitely following the raid in early September. U.S. Attorney David Hickton said on Sept. 16 that the raid was part of an ongoing investigation of Maurzio.
Maurizio has traveled frequently to Central and Latin America to visit orphanages that he supports financially, according to tax records. He is charged with possessing child pornography and sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children aided by the orphanages.
For a decade between 1999 and 2009, Maurizio paid young boys for sex in exchange for candy and money, ICE charges. He photographed boys taking showers and performing sex acts, according to the complaint.
Maurizio operates the nonprofit Humanitarian Interfaith Ministries in Johnstown, which is linked to the Honduran Interfaith Ministries in Honduras, according to the organization’s website.
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