2023-10-31 11:49:28
Fargo – A federal grand jury returned an indictment once morest Raymon Everett Holmberg, a/k/a Sean Evans, for Child Sex Tourism and Receipt of Child Pornography. Holmberg, age 79, from Grand Forks, ND, a former North Dakota State Senator, was indicted on October 26, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota and appeared for an initial appearance and arraignment today.
The Indictment alleges that beginning in June 2011 through November 2016, Holmberg repeatedly traveled from North Dakota to Prague, Czech Republic, for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts (Child Sex Tourism) with a person under the age of 18 years. It also alleges that on November 24, 2012, and continuing until March 4, 2013, Holmberg received and attempted to receive child pornography depicting a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Holmberg has entered a not guilty plea to matters alleged in the Indictment and an initial trial date has been scheduled for December 5, 2023.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The charges announced today are the result of a federal investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigation and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the nation, Project Safe Childhood, in conjunction with Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), help federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies enhance their investigative responses to offenders who use the Internet, online communications systems, or computer technology to sexually exploit children. The ICAC Program is a national network of 61 coordinated task forces engaging in proactive investigations, forensic investigations, and criminal prosecutions. Project Safe Childhood also helps to identify and rescue victims. For more information regarding Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. For additional resources for survivors or victims, help is available at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) and CyberTipline URL https://report.cybertip.org.
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 515, Associate Deputy Attorney General at Department of Justice Bradley Weinsheimer has directed and authorized the First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota to have the status and perform all the authorized functions of a United States Attorney with respect to the matter. This case will be prosecuted by the First Assistant US Attorney, and Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the United States Department of Justice.
Anyone with information concerning this investigation is encouraged to contact the Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 866-347-2423. Tips can be anonymous.
NOTE: Because this investigation is ongoing, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota will have no additional statements or comment at this time.
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