Kyle James Derus, a 39-year-old resident of Wisconsin, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison by the U.S. District Court of Guam for failing to notify authorities of his intent to travel internationally as required under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). In addition to imprisonment, Derus received three years of supervised release and must pay a $100 mandatory assessment fee.
Derus had previously been convicted of Third-Degree Sexual Assault in Wisconsin on March 20, 2017. As part of his sentence, he was required to register as a sex offender with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and adhere to strict notification requirements regarding international travel. SORNA mandates that registered sex offenders inform authorities at least 21 days before traveling abroad.
Authorities reported that Derus traveled from Wisconsin to Guam in February 2025 and then proceeded to Palau without notifying the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry. Homeland Security Investigations became aware of his movements and alerted Philippine authorities ahead of his planned visit there. Philippine officials subsequently denied him entry into their country.
After returning from the Philippines on March 1, 2025, Derus was interviewed by Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency officers. He explained that he had visited Guam before, went fishing in Palau, and attempted to meet his girlfriend in the Philippines.
Further investigation determined that Derus did not notify registry officials about his international trip as required by law. On March 4, 2025, after it was found that he failed to disclose his status as a convicted sex offender when applying for a passport—an action mandated by International Megan’s Law—the U.S. Department of State revoked his passport because it lacked the necessary identifier for individuals convicted of sex offenses.
On March 18, 2025, U.S. Marshals arrested Derus at A.B. Won Pat International Airport in Guam while he attempted to board a flight bound for Honolulu. His passport showed stamps confirming travel between Palau and Guam but no evidence he entered the Philippines.
“Guam is not a safe haven for sex offenders seeking to evade SORNA enforcement,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “Derus’s failure to comply with SORNA’s travel notification requirements and his attempt to conceal his status as a convicted sex offender led to his arrest and conviction, and the revocation of his passport. This case underscores the importance of laws that monitor the location and travel of convicted sex offenders.”
The investigation involved several agencies including United States Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Customs and Border Protection, and Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency.
Assistant United States Attorney Devarup Rastogi prosecuted this case for the District of Guam.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation through coordination among federal, state, and local resources. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
