Acting United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Production of Child Pornography.
Robert Eugene Stefani, age 45, was indicted on July 7, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on July 12, 2021 and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 30 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on or about June 22, 2019, Stefani, knowingly employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a juvenile female to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct, knowing and having reason to know that such visual depiction would be transported in interstate or foreign commerce or mailed, and such visual depiction would be produced using materials that had been mailed, shipped, and transported in interstate and foreign commerce, including by computer.
The charge is merely an accusation and Stefani is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.
Stefani were released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
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