A former North Dakota lawmaker, Ray Holmberg, 80, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to traveling to Europe with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity with minors. Holmberg admitted to paying young male masseuses during multiple visits to the Czech Republic, where he engaged in sexual contact with some of them.
Indicted in October 2023, Holmberg faced charges of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity and receipt of child sexual abuse material. Under a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to the former charge, with prosecutors recommending a sentence at the low end of the guideline range.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Puhl detailed that Holmberg made 14 trips to Prague from 2011 to 2021, frequenting a villa described as a brothel with teenage male masseuses. The investigation revealed his involvement with a landscaper, Nicholas James Morgan-Derosier, who is serving a 40-year prison sentence.
Holmberg, a retired high school counselor, acknowledged his travels to Prague with the purpose of engaging in commercial sex with adolescent-age individuals under 18. He cited retirement as the period when this activity began and expressed uncertainty about the ages of the masseuses.
Despite facing travel restrictions and other conditions, Holmberg failed to comply with all requirements, including unapproved Internet access and a visit to an adult novelty store. The judge allowed him to remain released before sentencing due to health issues and medical appointments.
His case has raised concerns about the use of state funds for personal travel, with records showing Holmberg's extensive trips within the U.S. and abroad. The North Dakota School Boards Association returned funds following revelations of his use of state funds for travel to Europe.
North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley emphasized the significance of Holmberg's guilty plea in combating child sex trafficking, calling it a crucial step in addressing domestic and global sexual exploitation of children.
