Pa. man sentenced for sex tourism

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PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- A U.S. District Court judge in Philadelphia handed a man with dual Russian-U.S. citizenship the most severe available sentence for sex tourism in Russia.

Andrew Mogilyansky, a Bucks County, Pa. charity founder and businessman, received an eight-year prison term Wednesday for having sex with three Russian girls, two of whom were 13 and the other 14, who lived in a orphanage, during a trip to Russia. Judge Mary A. McLaughlin, said she had never before sentenced a defendant with such a polarized personality, referring to the contrast between his philanthropy and his predatory acts, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

McLaughlin also ordered Mogilyansky to pay $5,000 each in restitution to his victims and a $12,500 fine to the U.S. government, and sentenced him to 15 years on supervised release after his prison term.

"This is a grave criminal act," the judge said.

Mogilyansky pleaded guilty in April to three counts of engaging in illicit sex in a foreign place and one count of traveling to engage in illicit sex.

"This case shows international borders are no longer an obstacle to (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's) ability to track, arrest, and prosecute child predators who prey on unsuspecting children in impoverished communities," Andrew M. McLees, acting special agent heading ICE's Philadelphia investigations said, referring to a federal law allowing U.S. officials to bring criminal charges against U.S. citizens who commit sex acts with minors in foreign countries.