PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti—In a closed courtroom in one of the few government buildings still standing here, Laura Silsby and nine other American missionaries were charged Thursday with abducting children from this earthquake-ravaged capital.
Their lawyer, Edwin F. Coq Jr., said they had been charged with child abduction and criminal association and not the more-serious charges of kidnapping and child trafficking in connection with trying to take 33 children into the neighboring Dominican Republic. The charges could carry sentences of up to nine years and up to three years, respectively, Mr. Coq said.
For Ms. Silsby it was the latest in a series of wrong turns on a road her parents and others who know her in Idaho say was paved with the best intentions. Yet in her long-stated desire to help orphans, she has left a trail of business and personal debts, as well as unheeded warnings about the intricacies of taking children out of Haiti.
"Laura was the only one who had knowledge of what was going on," Mr. Coq said. "The rest said only that they love Haiti. That is why they came to Haiti."
Much about Ms. Silsby, who started and ran an online personal-shopping service, remains a mystery, including the current state of her business and personal finances—her house was foreclosed and she was sued by creditors—and whether she believed she was following Haitian law as she gathered children.
Personal Shopper, whose Web site personalshopper.com, promises to guide shoppers to products that fit their needs, won Ms. Silsby a 2006 award as International Businesswoman of the Year from eWomen Network, a Texas-based international businesswomen's group. By last year it also was facing suits.
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carmencita ago
Nothing to see here folks. Having Clinton Connections and her lawyer involved in a human trafficking ring means nothing. As usual we are trying to make mountain out of a mole hill. That's what I was told when I was trying to red pill someone last year. We are still trying to explain this to people. What will it take. So frustrating.
truthdemon ago
The solution which no.one here understands ..is to reduce debt ..and stop.feeding the banking system..at the same time setting urself up as creditor over the US treasury...
Then as an individual or a group...u can instruct the US to follow ur instructiins...while they r obliged to discharge ur bills and debts...from here on
Google : nexium etymology Google : what is namium .and then search for nexium ..and understand that Rome is indebted and obliged to ur instructions from berth ..and that u have a nexium contract over them when u turn them into ur debtor
carmencita ago
I have read your comments before and it makes some sense. I don't pretend to understand all of what you say, I am not of the same understanding. I have heard others speak of reducing the debt and I believe it to be true. I believe that they have really pulled the wool over our eyes and we have been living a huge ponzi scheme.