BURLEIGH COUNTY (trfnews.i234.me) A Bismarck man is facing multiple federal charges that accuse him of traveling to Thailand to abuse children. Sean David Snyder, 40, made his first appearance in North Dakota U.S. District Court on Monday, November 24. The charges were unsealed late last week.
Snyder is charged with three counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places and three counts of traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. He also faces a charge involving the possession of child sex abuse materials. Federal court filings outline the accusations in detail.
Mugshot: Sean David Snyder
According to the indictment, Snyder traveled from North Dakota to Phuket, Thailand, between 2018 and August 15, 2025. Prosecutors say he abused two children during that period. One child, born in 2016, was allegedly abused between 2023 and August 15, 2025. Another child, born in 2012, was allegedly abused between 2018 and 2025.
The indictment also states that Snyder possessed child sex abuse material on a cellphone. Prosecutors say the images involved children younger than 12 years old. His trial is scheduled for January 6.
Snyder’s attorney, Bradley Rose, said he could not comment on the case at this early stage.
This is not Snyder’s first encounter with sexual offense allegations. In 2015, he was charged with gross sexual imposition in Emmons County. Prosecutors accused him of abusing an eight-year-old girl in Hazelton. A jury later found him not guilty.
According to Snyder’s LinkedIn profile, he served as president and primary shareholder of Sunny Side Cleaning Services in Bismarck. The profile also lists him as the owner of Sunny Side Yacht Charters in Phuket. The company website includes a Thailand phone number.
A representative for the cleaning company, who identified herself as Snyder’s wife, said he stepped down from leadership a month ago. She also denied the federal allegations and said Snyder did not travel to Thailand.
Snyder is the second North Dakotan charged with traveling abroad to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Former state senator Ray Holmberg is serving a 10-year federal sentence for traveling to Prague with plans to abuse minors. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says the two cases are not connected.
For more information on federal child exploitation laws, visit the U.S. Department of Justice.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.