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Date: 03-20-2024
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Judge: Roberto A. Lange
Court: The United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for Sioux Falls
Defendant's Attorney:
Description:
Saskatchewan Man Sentenced to Federal Prison
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Saskatchewan, Canada, man convicted of Possession of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on March 15, 2024.
Benjamin Martin Moore, 52, was sentenced to four years and four months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Moore will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Moore was indicted for Possession of Child Pornography and Transporting Illegal Aliens by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. He pleaded guilty on December 13, 2023.
On August 9, 2022, Moore illegally entered the United States with his significant other and her two minor children. It was believed Moore fled Canada likely to escape potential prosecution and removal of the children from their custody. Moore had entered the United States by cutting a barbed wire fence near Turner, Montana. An Amber Alert was issued, and it was reported that Moore had been working as a security guard at a campground in Meade County, South Dakota. Agents responded to the campground and were able to locate Moore attempting to flee with his significant other and her minor children. Agents were able to stop Moore and upon his arrest located a cell phone and SIM card in his possession. A forensic examination of the phone revealed he was in possession of images and videos of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Meade County Sheriff’s Office, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Havre Sector Border Patrol, and the Canadian Child Protective Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
Moore was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
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