Fridae

An American millionaire wanted in Mexico on charges of alleged child sexual abuse child prostitution and providing drugs to minors was arrested at the luxurious Oriental hotel in Bangkok last Tuesday. The arrest was made at the request of the Mexican government.

Thomas Frank White, a 68-year-old investor and stockbroker from San Francisco is currently being held at the Bangkok Remand Prison and is facing possible extradition to Mexico on charges of child sexual abuse involving young boys in the Mexican resort town of Puerto Vallarta.

Although Mexico does not have an extradition treaty with Thailand, it petitioned the Thai government for White's arrest on Dec. 4.

White had been under scrutiny since mid-1999, the result of a campaign by child protection advocates and mainly one Mexican woman's controversial crusade to protect a segment of the population she believes is as voiceless as it is poor: Latin America's street children.

"He is a predator who picked up boys from the shore as if they were seashells," Maria Nicolasa Garcia Reynoso said about White.

About a dozen homeless or poor boys between ages 10 and 16 have submitted sworn affidavits accusing White of enticing them to his home, paying them for sex and providing some with drugs, say Mexican authorities.

Through attorneys in San Francisco and Mexico, White has denied all charges.

Ortega Padilla called the allegations "entirely baseless," White's attorney, Jose Maria Ortega Padilla of Juarez told The Chronicle that his client is the victim of "an orchestrated conspiracy" and has been "accused by some young children who were used by someone wanting to harm White. They were pressured to accuse White. These are not credible charges."

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She added that the case against her client "was instigated by people who seek notoriety by making false accusations against prominent members of the community. With a prejudiced agenda they were only too pleased to ruin the reputation of a wealthy, gay San Franciscan who spent time in Mexico..."

The first warrant for his arrest was issued two years ago this month by the prosecutor general of the state of Jalisco while Mexican federal charges were lodged in October 2001.

Thai law enforcement authorities say White took up residence in the resort area of Jomtien Beach in Pattaya, Thailand, two months after the US Federal Bureau of Investigation has had a provisional arrest warrant out for him since last July.

According to The Francisco Chronicle and The Bangkok Post, White owns a never-used orphanage for boys linked to Hotel Casa Iguana, a 53-suite resort hotel, by a narrow footbridge across the creek-sized Mismaloya River and several assets in Thailand including a 10-million-baht mansion in Pattaya although he did not have a Thai wife, which is a requirement for foreigners to own land in Thailand.

White was also known to have travelled frequently since 2000 between Thailand and other Asian including Argentina, Cambodia, the Philippines and Malaysia.

After White's arrest in Thailand last week, the FBI "is looking at several US charges against Thomas White, including the production of child pornography," FBI Special Agent LaRae Quy told The Chronicle, speaking for the bureau in San Francisco.