PENNSYLVANIA
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

WASHINGTON, Pa. — A Pennsylvania Roman Catholic priest was indicted Tuesday on charges of foreign travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with minors and possession of child pornography. The indictment follows an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Pittsburgh.

Joseph D. Maurizio Jr., 69, a priest at the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, was originally charged by criminal complaint and arrested on Sept. 25. He has been in custody since his arrest.

According to allegations in the indictment and complaint, each year between 1999 and 2009, Maurizio traveled from Pennsylvania to Honduras to assist a non-profit organization that provides services to children there. While he was in Honduras, Maurizio provided money or candy to minor boys in an orphanage and engaged in unlawful sexual activities. Maurizio is also charged with possession of material depicting the sexual…