US 80-year-old Ex-Lawmaker Holmberg Set To Plead Guilty To Seeking Sex With Minor
Holmberg, who represented North Dakota in the legislature for several decades, faces serious allegations under a federal indictment handed down in October 2023.
Ray Holmberg, an 80-year-old former influential member of the North Dakota Legislature, is set to plead guilty on Thursday in a federal court to charges related to travelling to Europe with the intent to pay for sex with a minor.
Holmberg, who represented North Dakota in the legislature for several decades, faces serious allegations under a federal indictment handed down in October 2023.
The indictment accuses Holmberg of travelling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity and includes charges of receipt and attempted receipt of child sexual abuse material.
AP reports that Holmberg signed a plea agreement in June, committing to plead guilty to the travel charge.
In exchange, prosecutors have agreed to recommend a sentence at the lower end of the guideline range and to dismiss the additional charge. Holmberg will also be required to register as a sex offender.
The travel charge carries maximum penalties of up to 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and lifetime supervised release.
In the plea agreement, Holmberg admitted to repeatedly traveling from Grand Forks, North Dakota, to Prague, Czech Republic, between June 2011 and November 2016, with the intent to engage in commercial sex with individuals under the age of 18.
Holmberg has been subject to various release conditions, including travel restrictions, location monitoring, and surrendering his passport.
However, a pretrial services officer reported on Friday that Holmberg had violated these conditions by leaving his residence without approval, visiting an adult novelty store, accessing the Internet for unauthorized reasons, and failing to update and maintain the monitoring software on his cellular device.
In May, Holmberg tested positive for alcohol and was instructed to remove an unapproved iPad from his home.
Meanwhile, a judge then imposed a restriction on his access to electronic devices. Despite these measures, Holmberg continued to access the Internet in unauthorized ways.
Pretrial Services Officer Christine Argall stated, “Due to the statutory mandate of detention, respectfully, the defendant is not viewed as a suitable candidate for self-surrender.”
Holmberg’s attorney, Mark Friese, declined to comment, and Holmberg has not been arrested.
Former U.S. Attorney Tim Purdon described the report as routine but noted the seriousness of the alleged violations, given the nature of the charges.
Purdon expressed concern over Holmberg’s use of unapproved devices to access the Internet, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
Holmberg, a former Republican state senator who served from 1976 until mid-2022, had previously announced he would not seek reelection but resigned after reports revealed he exchanged numerous text messages with an individual convicted of child sexual abuse material.
Holmberg’s trial is scheduled to begin in September in Fargo.
He initially pleaded not guilty. During his tenure, Holmberg chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Legislative Management panel, which allowed him to approve his own travel.
Meanwhile, records indicate he took numerous trips both within the U.S. and internationally since 1999, including destinations in over 30 states, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Norway.
Earlier this year, the North Dakota School Boards Association returned approximately $142,000 to the state and withdrew from the Global Bridges teacher exchange program after travel records showed Holmberg traveled to Prague and other European cities in 2011, 2018, and 2019 using state funds.
However, it remains unclear if the alleged misconduct occurred during these trips.
According to Purdon, the combination of a high-profile politician, severe allegations, and the use of taxpayer funds makes this case potentially the most significant political scandal in North Dakota history.
