A federal grand jury returned an indictment against former North Dakota State Senator Raymon Everett Holmberg, a/k/a Sean Evans, for “Child Sex Tourism and Receipt of Child Pornography.”

Holmberg, a longtime Republican state senator, “was indicted on October 26, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of North Dakota stated in a press release.

The Associated Press reports Holmberg was “arrested Monday and released after pleading not guilty to the charges in U.S. District Court in Fargo.”

His trial is set for December 5th.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office District of North Dakota press release states:

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.

Former North Dakota state senator Ray Holmberg (R) faces federal charges for traveling to Prague to commit a heinous crime against a minor.

Previously, he had resigned following allegations of inappropriate communications with someone jailed for child exploitation.

After a home raid, he was indicted for crimes in the Czech Republic and for possessing illicit child imagery. H

Holmberg had also been reimbursed for numerous trips internationally and domestically.

The extent of his actions on these travels is alarming, raising concerns about further offenses.

The Associated Press reports:

Holmberg served more than 45 years in the North Dakota Senate until his resignation last year, after local media outlet The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead revealed he exchanged dozens of text messages with a person who was jailed on charges related to child sexual abuse images.

Holmberg’s attorney, Mark Friese, said in a text message that authorities investigated Holmberg “for 2 years or more and allege nothing recent. The conduct they allege is from more than a decade ago.”

Advertisement

Holmberg was released with conditions, and the judge did not require posting of any bond, Friese said.

A text message sent to Holmberg after his release Monday was not immediately returned, and his phone did not have voicemail so a message could not be left.

Holmberg chaired the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which writes budgets. He announced in March 2022 he wouldn’t seek reelection. He cited stress and “a weakened ability to concentrate on the matters at hand and effectively recall events” before ultimately resigning.

“The charges announced today are the result of a federal investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigation and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force,” the press release states.

“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,” it added.

Join The Conversation. Leave a Comment.


We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.