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 You are in: Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs > Bureau of Public Affairs > Bureau of Public Affairs: Press Relations Office > Press Releases (Other) > 2004 > July 
Media Note (Revised)
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
July 2, 2004


Diplomatic Security & U.S. Marshals Service Return Fugitive Child Molester from Guatemala

Department of State Diplomatic Security special agents, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, located a child molester wanted in Arlington, Virginia, who fled the country earlier this week to Guatemala. Thomas Kouky, who admitted to sexually abusing more than 300 children, is now in custody and has been returned to the United States.

Mr. Koucky, a repeat child sexual offender was arrested by Arlington County, Virginia, Police Department Special Victim's Unit on June 17. He is wanted on charges of Failure to Appear for his scheduled court appearance on Wednesday, June 30.

Last night, July 1, the Diplomatic Security special agent assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala located and positively identified Mr. Koucky in an impoverished neighborhood outside Guatemala City. Knowing that Mr. Koucky could flee at any time, the Diplomatic Security agent worked overnight with Guatemalan officials to devise a plan to apprehend the fugitive.

Early on the morning of July 2, the Diplomatic Security agent and Guatemalan police persuaded Mr. Koucky to surrender himself to local officials. With Mr. Koucky in custody, Diplomatic Security coordinated with the U.S. Marshals Service, Arlington County Police Department and Guatemalan immigration authorities to expel him from Guatemala.

Under escort by a Diplomatic Security agent and a Guatemalan immigration officer, Mr. Koucky was returned to the United States on the afternoon of July 2.

 Diplomatic Security plays a leading role in assisting other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies with thousands of investigations overseas each year. Mr. Koucky is one of 50 U.S. fugitives who have been located and returned in 2004 as a result of a strong cooperative effort between the U.S. Marshals and Diplomatic Security.

The Department of State extends its appreciation to the government of Guatemala for its extraordinary efforts in helping to apprehend this known sex offender.

2004/746

Released on July 2, 2004

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