United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that an Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, and Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor.
Rickey Lee Crain, age 27, was indicted on January 24, 2017, and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on January 27, 2017. He pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The penalty upon conviction is a minimum of 5 years up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a minimum of 5 years up to lifetime supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Crain using a cell phone and a computer to send obscene material to a minor, and to engage in sexually explicit conduct with a female he believed to be 13-years old.
The charges are merely an accusation and Crain is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Collins is prosecuting the case.
Crain was released pending trial.