More than two decades after Frantz Dieudonne failed to appear in court, the FBI is renewing its appeal for information about his whereabouts. He was arrested in June 2002 and indicted in Illinois and Utah over allegations that he transported a 15-year-old girl across state lines for sex. The FBI says he has not been seen since missing a September 2003 court date.
A Case That Began With a Traffic Stop
FBI Salt Lake City shared the renewed appeal in a post.
FBI Chicago says Dieudonne is wanted for allegedly traveling across state lines to engage in sex with a 15-year-old, with the alleged conduct occurring between 2001 and 2002. The agency says he was indicted in both Illinois and Utah and arrested in June 2002.
The arrest was also covered by
CBS News, which reported that an officer saw Dieudonne and the girl switching seats inside his parked vehicle.
Dieudonne was indicted in the Northern District of Illinois on October 1, 2002, and in the District of Utah on February 26, 2003, on charges of transporting a minor across state lines for sexual activity; he posted bail about a week after his arrest, then failed to appear in court on September 22, 2003, before also failing to appear for separate trials scheduled for October 20, 2003, in Salt Lake City, and November 3, 2003, in Chicago, as noted by FBI. Per FBI Chicago, Dieudonne failed to appear in court in September 2003, and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest at that time.
A Trail That Reportedly Leads to Haiti
CBS News reported that Dieudonne, born in Haiti on June 20, 1969, may have gone to his native country, where he had relatives. That possibility has not established his current whereabouts. The case background compiled around FBI records spans Utah, Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The U.S.–Haiti Extradition Treaty
The Office of the Historian at the U.S. Department of State records that the United States and Haiti signed a mutual-extradition treaty in Washington on August 9, 1904. The historical record establishes the treaty’s existence, but does not indicate whether a U.S. request related to Dieudonne has been made.
CBS News reported FBI records describe Dieudonne as a Black male, about 5 feet 7 inches tall and 145 pounds. FBI Chicago's current notice says he is believed to have a scar on his right wrist. FBI records cited by Patch say he has worked as a chemist and a nursing assistant.
A Standing Reward
The FBI has offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to Dieudonne's arrest, per a report from CBS News.
The Charges Against Dieudonne
The charges against Dieudonne stem from allegations that he transported a 15-year-old girl across state lines for sex.
How to Submit a Tip
FBI Chicago is asking the public to report information about Dieudonne's whereabouts. Tips can be submitted by phone at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or online at tips.fbi.gov; the bureau says tips can remain anonymous. FBI Chicago posted the renewed appeal on Thursday morning, and FBI Salt Lake City shared it later that afternoon.
