Sex crimes, Wisconsin youth soccer club director charged

Youth soccer director charged with sex crimes

A Wisconsin youth soccer club director is accused of trying to fly overseas to have sex with a child, part of an international undercover operation.

MILWAUKEE - A Wisconsin youth soccer club director is accused of trying to fly overseas to have sex with a child, part of an international undercover operation.

Editor's note: After this story aired and was published, an attorney representing the club responded in regard to FOX6's request for comment. This story was updated to include information from that response, as well as an email sent to club parents, and can now be read below. The video above is what aired during FOX6 News at 5 on Dec. 3, 2025.

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In Court:

Justin Kagerbauer is charged in federal court with multiple sex crimes. On Tuesday, a judge ordered the 46-year-old detained pending trial. FOX6 News reached out to his attorney but did not immediately hear back.

International operation

The backstory:

A flight bound for New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport took off from Chicago O'Hare on Thanksgiving morning. Federal agents planned to arrest Kagerbauer at the airport, but he never made it.

Two hours later, court records show the 46-year-old man was in U.S. Marshals custody at the federal courthouse. He appeared before a magistrate judge that afternoon.

Complaint filed against Justin Kagerbauer

For months, prosecutors said he had been talking with who he thought was a woman in the U.K. with a 9-year-old niece. It was actually an undercover U.K. cop.

Court filings said he wrote he was "interested in girls '6+'" – as well as "I have no experience, but I would love to" and "it would be a dream come true." The undercover officer and Kagerbauer chatted more than 100 times from March through November, reiterating plans to visit the woman and the 9-year-old girl in November.

JetBlue told federal investigators Kagerbauer bought a one-way ticket to Heathrow Airport in London via JFK for Nov. 27, 2025. 

Wisconsin connection

Dig deeper:

From court filings and archived websites, FOX6 News learned Kagerbauer was an architect for Hartland Home Builder and served as the director of tryouts and accounts receivable for the Franklin-based Croation Eagles Soccer Club.

Prosecutors have not mentioned any allegations involving the club or children.

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Club attorney responds

What they're saying:

FOX6 made multiple attempts to contact the club and its board of directors with questions but did not hear back by the deadline for Wednesday's story.

After the story aired on FOX6 News and appeared on our website and social media, an attorney representing the club said Kagerbauer was not the club's director or on the board of directors – but was the director of tryouts. The attorney said Kagerbauer did not coach children and was not part of the club's leadership structure. 

The attorney also said to expect a press release providing additional details on Friday, Dec. 5.

A parent also shared an email with FOX6 after the story, which was sent from the club's board of directors to parents. That email read:

"Croatian Eagles Soccer Club has recently been advised (12/02/2025) that one of our parents was detained by U.S. Government officials. We have suspended this individual pending the termination of any legal proceedings. We are notifying you out of an abundance of caution and have no indication that any of our members or children have been involved from the club. 

"We have no further comment at this time and can not answer any further questions. We ask that you refrain from speculating on social media until the legal proceedings have been terminated.

"As an organization, Croatian Eagles Soccer Club remains steadfast in our commitment to protect all players, families, and visitors from harm."