American FBI Suspect Detained in Chiang Mai Over US Warrant
Thai police detained 58-year-old American Joseph Frances Chinnock, also known as Joseph Kelly, in Chiang Mai on May 12 following a request from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Chinnock is wanted in the United States on an arrest warrant for three counts of assault and three counts of stalking. The FBI described him as a serious threat, alleging behaviors involving the sexual stalking and harassment of women and children. His US passport had previously been cancelled by the US Embassy. Immigration authorities discovered that Chinnock entered Thailand on March 23, 2026, using a Privilege Entry visa. After locating him at a condominium in the Suthep subdistrict, officers revoked his visa and took him into custody for further legal proceedings. This arrest aligns with a recent directive from National Police Chief Kittirat Phanphet to dismantle illegal foreign criminal networks within three months. The operation highlights ongoing cooperation between Thai Immigration Police, the FBI, and international agencies to suppress transnational crime. In a related development, Thai police also arrested a foreign hacker wanted by the FBI in Phuket for cyberattacks against government networks in Europe and the US.
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American FBI Suspect Detained in Chiang Mai Over US Warrant
Thai police detained 58-year-old American Joseph Frances Chinnock, also known as Joseph Kelly, in Chiang Mai on May 12 following a request from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Chinnock is wanted in the United States on an arrest warrant for three counts of assault and three counts of stalking. The FBI described him as a serious threat, alleging behaviors involving the sexual stalking and harassment of women and children. His US passport had previously been cancelled by the US Embassy. Immigration authorities discovered that Chinnock entered Thailand on March 23, 2026, using a Privilege Entry visa. After locating him at a condominium in the Suthep subdistrict, officers revoked his visa and took him into custody for further legal proceedings. This arrest aligns with a recent directive from National Police Chief Kittirat Phanphet to dismantle illegal foreign criminal networks within three months. The operation highlights ongoing cooperation between Thai Immigration Police, the FBI, and international agencies to suppress transnational crime. In a related development, Thai police also arrested a foreign hacker wanted by the FBI in Phuket for cyberattacks against government networks in Europe and the US.