LOS ANGELES—A federal jury in Los Angeles has convicted a retired Marine captain of having sex with seven preteen girls while living in Cambodia.

Michael Joseph Pepe was found guilty on seven counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. The federal law targets people who go overseas to engage in so-called child sex tourism.

The 54-year-old Oxnard resident faces up to 210 years in prison when he is sentenced in September.

During trial, six girls who were between 9 and 12 at the time of the abuse testified that Pepe drugged, bound, beat and raped them. A defense attorney argued the assaults were committed by a prostitute and her boyfriend who had access to Pepe's house.