A Central City priest now faces a federal indictment, accused of paying candy and cash to orphans in Honduras for unlawful sexual activities.

The Rev. Joseph D. Maurizio, 69, is accused of foreign travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with minors and child porn possession, the Department of Justice said in a release Wednesday.

Maurizio has been lodged in Cambria County Prison since his late September arrest.

Charges were initially filed after federal agents raided the rectory at Our Lady Queen of Angels and seized computers and other devices, including a hard drive prosecutors say contained minors engaged in sexual conduct.

His defense attorney has told the court the longtime priest was innocent of his charges, maintaining Maurizio became caught between warring charities vying for his money – ProNiño USA and ProNiño Honduras and a third entity described as the Dutch contingent. Accusations arose after he severed ties with two Honduras charities, the attorney said.