Ex-Lawmaker Guilty of Traveling for Child Exploitation

Ray Holmberg, an 80-year-old former North Dakota lawmaker, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to traveling to Europe with the intent to engage in sexual activities with minors. Holmberg, who served over 45 years in the North Dakota Senate before resigning in 2022, admitted to paying young male masseuses during multiple trips to the Czech Republic, although he claimed he was uncertain of their ages. In his plea agreement, Holmberg acknowledged that he made 14 trips to Prague between 2011 and 2021, motivated by a desire to engage in commercial sex with individuals under 18. Testimonies revealed that he frequented a villa described as a brothel, where he had sexual encounters with teenage male masseuses. Investigators also uncovered allegations involving Holmberg and a former employee of a local business, who claimed to have had sexual relations with him in exchange for a landscaping contract. During the court proceedings, the judge questioned Holmberg about his involvement in such activities, including the age of the youngest person he had paid for sex. Holmberg, a retired high school counselor, stated that his actions began after his retirement and that the Czech Republic was the only country where he engaged in such behavior. Following his guilty plea, Holmberg faced scrutiny for violating pretrial conditions, including unauthorized internet access and a positive alcohol test. Despite these violations, the judge allowed him to remain free until sentencing. North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley emphasized the significance of Holmberg's plea in the ongoing fight against child sex trafficking in the state.