Box Elder Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Sex Crimes

Press Release August 26, 2021

Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Box Elder, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet was sentenced on August 17, 2021, by Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Judge.

Adam Ryan Swift, age 32, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and life in prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet. The sentences are to run concurrently. Swift was also ordered to pay $24,700 in restitution and a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Swift was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 11, 2020. He pleaded guilty on April 9, 2021. The conviction stems from Swift communicating with the parent of a 9- year-old girl in New York state, who was in fact an undercover agent, with the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with the minor female. The undercover agent in New York prepared a report and sent to local law enforcement, who were able to identify Swift. Local law enforcement then contacted Swift, posing as the parent of a 5-year-old girl and arranged a time to meet, again with the purpose of Swift engaging in sexual activity with the minor. The meeting took place and Swift was arrested. Forensics of Swift’s devices and accounts revealed he produced images of child pornography with a 4-year-old male, as well as downloaded child pornography off the internet.

This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.

Swift was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Department of Justice Action Center