Fargo, ND (trfnews.i234.me)—Former North Dakota state senator Ray Holmberg, 81, will be sentenced on March 26 for traveling abroad with the intent to sexually abuse minors.
Holmberg, who represented Grand Forks in the North Dakota Senate from 1976 until 2022, pleaded guilty to traveling to Prague multiple times between 2011 and 2016 with the purpose of engaging in commercial sex with adolescent-age individuals.
Plea Agreement and Potential Sentence
Under federal law, it is a crime for a U.S. citizen to travel to another country with the intent of engaging in illicit sex with anyone under 18. The charge Holmberg admitted to carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison.
However, as part of his plea agreement, federal prosecutors agreed to recommend a sentence on the lower end of the guidelines, expected to be around three years. In exchange, a separate charge of attempting to receive child sex abuse materials will be dropped.
Despite Holmberg’s guilty plea, he stated during his August hearing:
“I don’t believe I broke any laws.”
Holmberg claimed he received massages in Prague, admitting to sexual contact during some sessions, but denied knowingly engaging in sex with minors.
Details of the Investigation
- Holmberg stayed at Villa Mansland, a gay hotel in Prague, where he allegedly asked staff to find him a “kid”, according to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Puhl.
- He used the alias “Sean Evans” during his trips.
- His case came under federal scrutiny after his name surfaced in connection with another individual convicted of trading child sex abuse materials online.
Repeated Violations and Jail Custody
Initially, Holmberg was released from custody while awaiting trial. However, after he repeatedly violated the conditions of his release, U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland ordered him to report to jail on Nov. 1, 2023.
He was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service and booked into the Sherburne County Jail in Elk River, Minnesota—about 35 miles northwest of Minneapolis—where he remains until sentencing.
Where Will Holmberg Serve His Sentence?
If sentenced to prison time, Holmberg is expected to be housed in a federal facility, potentially one that offers medical care, as he claims to suffer from serious spinal and pulmonary issues.
The closest Federal Medical Center (FMC) is in Rochester, Minnesota.
Mandatory Sex Offender Registration
Regardless of his sentence, Holmberg will be required to register as a sex offender.
Final Legal Steps
Holmberg’s defense attorney, Mark Friese, will submit a sentencing recommendation before the March 26 hearing. The judge will determine whether Holmberg receives prison time, probation, or time served.
Stay with TRF News for continued coverage.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me