Latest news with #Nukualofa
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Utah Mormon missionary is arrested for giving little boys toys and food in exchange for sexual favors
A former Mormon missionary has been arrested in Pittsburgh for allegedly sexually abusing at least 14 young boys while serving in Tonga before attempting to escape justice by fleeing the country using a fake identity. William James Purdy, 28, of West Valley, Utah, was taken into custody Thursday following a federal indictment handed down July 16, the Department of Justice announced. Purdy allegedly lured boys into his apartment with gifts including electronic devices, toys, food and money - before exploiting them for sexual exchanges. Purdy first traveled to the Pacific Island nation in 2017 to serve his mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But instead of spreading his mission, Prosecutors claim he groomed and sexually abused multiple underage boys over the course of several years, After his mission ended, Purdy returned to Tonga in 2019 to work as a teacher in the capital city of Nuku'alofa. Investigators say that this is when the abuse intensified. Some of the children he tutored and even lived with him, authorities said. Prosecutors also allege that Purdy secretly recorded boys in his bathroom using hidden cameras installed inside his apartments. The allegations came to light in October 2022 when an eight-year-old boy told police that Purdy had sexually assaulted him during tutoring sessions. Tongan authorities arrested the former missionary but after being released on bail, he allegedly continued abusing young victims. Then in March 2023, just days before he was scheduled to go on trial, Purdy disappeared. Investigators say he fled Tonga using a fake identity and returned to Utah where he managed to avoid detection for more than a year. Federal officials confirmed Thursday that the investigation has identified 14 child victims in Tonga so far but believe more may come forward. 'The defendant in this case chose to travel abroad under the guise of good intentions and then sexually exploited and abused children who had been trusted to his care,' said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. 'When foreign authorities sought to hold him accountable, he fled back to the United States. The United States will not export child exploitation. The Justice Department is committed to securing justice for children exploited overseas when these heinous acts are committed by Americans.' Edward V. Owens, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Philadelphia, called the case 'a profound betrayal of trust.' 'William James Purdy's actions represent a profound betrayal of trust and have caused immeasurable harm to the young lives he was supposed to protect and nurture.' 'HSI's global reach and partnerships are crucial in our relentless fight against child predators, ensuring that those who exploit and abuse children, no matter where they are, are brought to justice.' 'We remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society and will continue to work tirelessly to prevent such heinous crimes.' Acting Assistant Director of Domestic Operations Adrian Diaz of the US Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service (DDS) said: 'This is a perfect illustration of the DSS global reach and our ability to partner with U.S. and foreign law enforcement agencies on international cases.' 'DSS and our counterparts are conducting investigations like these on a daily basis around the world.' The case is being led by Homeland Security Investigations and the US Diplomatic Security Service with assistance from Tongan police and prosecutors. Purdy is now facing serious federal charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors overseas. If convicted, he could spend decades behind bars. The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the DOJ in 2006 to crack down on child sexual exploitation and abuse.
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Former Mormon missionary arrested in Pittsburgh, accused of sexually abusing minors
A former missionary was arrested Thursday in Pittsburgh on accusations that he sexually abused several minors while in Tonga. William James Purdy, 28, of West Valley, Utah, was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 16 on charges related to the exploitation of minors outside the United States. Court documents say Purdy traveled to Tonga in 2017 for his mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While there, he allegedly sexually abused multiple underage boys, according to a media release from the Department of Justice. Purdy then returned to Tonga in late 2019 to teach at a school in Nuku'alofa. Purdy is alleged to have groomed and sexually abused "numerous" male students over several years. He allegedly provided gifts, including electronic devices and internet access, food, toys, and money, in exchange for performing sexual acts, authorities say. Purdy is also alleged to have recorded underage boys in his bathroom at his various Tonga apartments without their knowledge. Purdy was arrested by Tonga police in October 2022, when an eight‑year‑old boy disclosed that Purdy sexually assaulted him during a tutoring sessions. When Purdy was released from jail, he allegedly continued to sexually abuse children. In March 2023, just before his scheduled trial, Purdy fled Tonga using an assumed identity and returned to Utah. By this point in the investigation, 14 minors were identified as abuse victims throughout Tonga. "The defendant in this case chose to travel abroad under the guise of good intentions and then sexually exploited and abused children who had been trusted to his care," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "When foreign authorities sought to hold him accountable, he fled back to the United States. The United States will not export child exploitation. The Justice Department is committed to securing justice for children exploited overseas when these heinous acts are committed by Americans." "William James Purdy's actions represent a profound betrayal of trust and have caused immeasurable harm to the young lives he was supposed to protect and nurture," said Special Agent in Charge Edward V. Owens of Homeland Security Investigations Philadelphia. "HSI's global reach and partnerships are crucial in our relentless fight against child predators, ensuring that those who exploit and abuse children, no matter where they are, are brought to justice. We remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society and will continue to work tirelessly to prevent such heinous crimes." The case continues to be investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Diplomatic Security Service, with the assistance of the Tonga police and the Tongan Department of Public Prosecutions.
RNZ News
21-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Flying Fijians coach 'really annoyed' by PNC prep time, squad limits
The Flying Fijians v Tonga in Nuku'alofa in a Pacific Nations Cup Pool A match last year. Photo: World Rugby As the Flying Fijians gear up for the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup (PNC) 2025, head coach Mick Byrne has raised two key issues that he says continue to affect Pacific Island teams. Byrne told RNZ Pacific that with Fiji, Samoa and Tonga and Samoa having majority of their players based in Europe, short preparation time and smaller squads "makes it very difficult for us to get ahead". He said he had raised the short preparation times given to teams competing in the PNC, and July internationals, compared to Rugby World Cup preparations. The Flying Fijians could only start their preparations for the one-off Test match against the Wallabies on 6 July the weekend prior to that. Mick Byrne Photo: Fiji Rugby Following the match against Scotland, members of the Flying Fijians squad have dispersed and returned to their various clubs, some returning to France and the United Kingdom. They will march back into camp in Suva mid-August to prepare for their PNC match against Tonga in Suva on 30 August. It is a financial issue because of the costs incurred, but Byrne said World Rugby should play fair. "I've spoken to World Rugby at a World Rugby coaching conference over in Sydney earlier in the year, where I raised the issue around you know, our teams perform well at World Cups because we get a five or six week window to prepare before we go to a World Cup," he said. "We should have those windows all the time. But you know, it's a cost, and it's an expense, and at the moment, it's being pushed on to the unions. "But for us, and for Tonga and Samoa, our players are in the northern hemisphere. A lot of our players are playing and earning their income from the Northern Hemisphere. So we can't just, it's not an easy expense. "It's not like Australia or New Zealand, where all the players are in that country, and you can run a three day camp and they'll just turn up on the Sunday. "We've got to fly players in from all over the world. So it is a challenge." Manu Samoa v 'Ikale Tahi during the Pacific Nations Cup 2024. Photo: World Rugby He said, while Rugby World Cup allowed for squad numbers of 32 or 33, the PNC teams are only allowed 28 players each. "I think the PNC is not set up for us as well. It's set up for the rich clubs and the rich organisations, because we're only allowed to name 28 players, which isn't enough for us to survive on," he said. He said if one of the 28 players got injured, the team have to replace the player out of the tournament. "In the World Cup, you get 32 or 33 players. I don't understand why the PNC organisers are making it so difficult for the islands to get ahead, and I'm really annoyed with that. "The fact is, I've been told I can select 28 players, but if I get a player injured and I have to replace him, I have to replace him for the whole tournament, and our depth just doesn't go like that. "So, I'm not sure what the PNC are trying to do. I know they do it in a World Cup, but I think PNC should be trying to grow the organisations in the Southern Hemisphere and the Pacific Islands, not making life more difficult." Byrne said if they name five props and three hookers, plus three halfbacks that is 11 players already, which would leave the other 12 positions shared by 17 players. "If you name your five props, and one of your props gets injured and he's only going to be out for a week, but you can't afford to not replace him, because you need to be able to put fit players on the field. "So if we had to lose a prop for a week, we've got to actually lose replace him out of the whole tournament. Absolutely, absolutely ridiculous. "And I'm not sure who the PNC think they are when they put these sort of restrictions on struggling organisations like Tonga Samoa and Fiji. "I'm sure the USA and Canada are in the same boat, but the USA are playing in the USA. So you know, at the end of the day, when we get to a final series, we gotta travel. We gotta fly people over to replace for one week. It just makes it very difficult for us to get ahead." RNZ Pacific has reached out to Oceania Rugby, which manages the PNC on behalf of World Rugby, for clarification on the issues Bryne raised. Tonga's head coach Tevita Tuifua also raised the same issues during the week, adding that is is a difficult situation for them. He said while they are supported mainly by World Rugby, they are hopeful that both the issues could be looked at and rectified, to ensure that island unions are able to compete on the same levelled playing field with bigger nations. "It is a challenge and a big one because with the preparation time it is just too short but it is also expensive to have longer camps," he said. "On top of that, like Fiji and Samoa, we are also flying our players from different parts of the world. "And then having to go through the squad numbers and replacement rules, that makes it tougher on us, because we do not have the player depth." Last Thursday, Manu Samoa assistant coach Census Johnstone said they had to cramp their preparation for their one-off test against Scotland into a short week. He said that is a major challenge island nation unions face.
