Washington, Aug 28 (IANS): Authorities in the US have launched a probe against an Air Force sergeant infected with HIV for allegedly failing to inform a "multitude of sexual partners" about his medical status, a media report said.

The Air Force Office of Special Investigations launched a criminal probe after receiving information that Sgt. David Gutierrez, 43, "engaged in numerous, unprotected sexual acts over the course of three years", Fox News reported Friday.

Gutierrez, stationed at the McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, was apprehended Aug 9 for allegedly violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Investigators then searched his home to "identify potential witnesses and victims".

Gutierrez's wife, Gina, later told officials that the military veteran contracted HIV in 2007 while he was stationed in Italy. She said Gutierrez notified his partners in Italy about possible exposure but did not do so after he was reassigned to the Air Force Base in 2008.

Gutierrez was addicted to adult networking websites and "began having unprotected sex with numerous partners" at parties in Kansas, she said.