Andy Vertoont, a Belgian paedophile sought for child rape and extortion in Belgium, was surrendered to authorities in Brussels today by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
On November 12, 2010, ICE agents and officers, with the assistance of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, apprehended Andy Vertoont, 31, a Belgian national, at his workplace in Ocala, Florida. Special agents from ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Orlando commenced an investigation following a request for assistance from the Belgian Federal Police and the ICE HSI attaché office in Brussels.
Andy Vertoont is in ICE detention awaiting extradition to Belgium, where he is sought under an arrest warrant for the June 2009 rape of a 12-year-old boy. He was apprehended in Belgium and subsequently freed conditionally before his trial. Subsequently, he escaped to the United States to evade prosecution in Belgium.
Andy Vertoont is now charged with extorting 12,000 Euros (roughly $17,000 in U.S. currency) from an individual in Belgium, allegedly threatening bodily damage if the payment was not made.
He was previously apprehended, convicted, and jailed in Belgium in 2001 for the rape of two minors, aged 11 and 12.
Andy Vertoont, escorted by ICE ERO officers, departed Miami International Airport in Miami on Tuesday and was turned over to authorities at the Brussels Airport in Brussels on July 6.
“To those who think they can come to the United States to escape their criminal past – think again,” said ICE Director John Morton. “ICE will not allow the United States to be a safe haven for those who have come to our country in an effort to evade prosecution and punishment for crimes they commit in their home country. ICE, along with our law enforcement partners, will use every tool at our disposal to end the sexual exploitation of our children and keep them safe wherever they live.”
“Criminals who think that they can use the United States as a sanctuary to avoid justice for monstrous acts committed against children are sadly mistaken.” said Brian DeMore, ICE HSI’s attaché to Belgium and the European Union. “Law enforcement agencies will continue to work tirelessly across jurisdictions and national borders to protect the world’s children from these predators. I commend the collaboration of HSI and our international law enforcement partners – especially the Belgian Federal Police – who assisted in tracking down this child predator so that he can face justice here in Belgium.”
Andy Vertoont last entered the United States on Oct. 1, 2009, on a visa waiver not to extend beyond 90 days and he remained in the United States beyond 90 days without authorization. He was ordered removed by an immigration judge on Jan. 10.
ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.
Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.
The ICE HSI Office of International Affairs serves as the agency’s liaison to counterparts in local government and law enforcement. HSI has 69 offices in 47 countries around the world, including an office in Brussels. HSI’s international operations include:
- Coordinating investigations with foreign law enforcement counterparts;
- Providing domestic and international HSI offices with investigative case support and information related to cross-border criminal activities involving people, goods and technology;
- Providing training and capacity building to foreign law enforcement counterparts;
- Assisting in removal operations by facilitating efforts to repatriate removable aliens; and
- Referring requests from host country agencies to HSI domestic investigative offices
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.