Elderly north dakota gop leader pleads guilty to traveling overseas for romps with young boys

WASHINGTON, DC – Ray Holmberg, an 80-year-old former North Dakota State Senator from Grand Forks, has pleaded guilty to charges related to engaging in illicit sexual conduct with minors in Prague, Czech Republic.

According to court documents, Holmberg traveled approximately 14 times to Prague between 2011 and 2021, where he participated in commercial sex acts with minor boys.

Holmberg used the alias “Sean Evans” during some of these visits, staying at brothels and frequenting public areas to solicit sexual services from minors.

His communications using this alias included disturbing references to his activities, such as discussing “his twink” and remarking, “no one is ever too young . . . remember Prague.”

He also sent an email to a friend promoting a visit to a known brothel, Villa Mansland, highlighting the low cost of hiring young boys for sex.

The former senator pleaded guilty to one count of traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.

The sentencing date has yet to be scheduled, and the sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines among other factors.

The case was announced by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Puhl for the District of North Dakota, and Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul. The investigation is being conducted by HSI and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations, with prosecution led by Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Puhl.

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