A missionary with more than 100,000 TikTok followers is accused of sexually abusing three 14-year-old boys while working with a ministry in Haiti, including two whose schooling he was paying for.

Maylon Foshee, 23, of Mansfield, Louisiana, faces up to 30 years in federal prison if convicted, according to a US Attorney's Office press release. A complaint filed on 22 September in federal court charges him with illicit sexual conduct with minors abroad.

What the Boys Told Investigators

Foshee worked with a ministry in Gonaives. The FBI was notified in March, and investigators say the abuse occurred between February and December 2025, when all three boys were aged 14.

Victim 1 said he was assaulted twice while asleep at Foshee's home, where he lived because Foshee paid for his schooling. He said he was left in shock the first time and tried to avoid a repeat by sleeping in another room.

The second assault came three months later, he said. He also said Foshee sometimes beat him with a belt, which is classed as physical abuse and is separate from the sexual abuse alleged.

Victim 2, whose schooling Foshee also paid for, alleged he was assaulted the night before his 15th birthday. Victim 3 said he lived with Foshee because of difficulties at home with his parents.

Victim 3 said he initially resisted but alleged that Foshee later engaged in sexual acts with him after offering to obtain a passport for him and take him to the US. His older brother said Foshee propositioned him and sent explicit photos, but he rejected the advances.

In voicemails cited by investigators, Foshee claimed Victims 2 and 3 came to him. He said what happened with Victim 1 just happened.

Foshee returned to the US to raise money for the ministry. While he was there, two people tied to similar ministries in Haiti received reports from multiple children that he had abused them.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Health Risks of Childhood Abuse

No diagnosis for the boys has been described. Still, sexually abused children may show anxiety, depression, trouble concentrating, recurring nightmares and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Low self-esteem, delays in emotional development and thoughts of suicide are also among the possible effects. Some children develop chronic abdominal pain or headaches, while sudden, unexplained changes in mood or behaviour can be warning signs.

Toxic stress can disrupt brain development and cause problems with learning, attention and memory. Abusers are often people the child knows and trusts.

Psychologist Ratu Ade Waznah Sofwat of EMC Pekayon Hospital wrote that abuse can make children more prone to sadness, anger and fear, and can cause sleep trouble. Victims may also struggle to trust others, leading to loneliness, panic attacks or depression.

Untreated trauma may lead some people to turn to alcohol or drugs as a coping mechanism. However, outcomes vary, and not every child who experiences abuse develops long-term psychological difficulties.

Treatment and Recovery Support

Children who experience abuse often need behavioural health care. Counselling and therapy can reduce long-term harm and help with the self-esteem and trust issues that often follow.

Healthcare professionals may assess a child through a physical examination, laboratory tests and imaging. They may also review the child's medical and developmental history and speak to the child when appropriate.

Anyone affected is advised to see a psychologist or psychiatrist. Recovery is not an overnight process, and children heal at different paces.

The case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a US Department of Justice initiative targeting child sexual exploitation and abuse. The FBI investigated the case.

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