Peace Garden News

Raymon (Ray) Everett Holmberg, a former North Dakota state senator with a long career spanning 45 years, has been sentenced to a 10-year prison term. The sentence was handed down on March 26, 2025, for charges related to his travel to Prague, Czech Republic, to engage in illegal activities with children.

Court documents reveal that Holmberg, 81, of Grand Forks, traveled to Prague about 14 times between 2011 and 2021. He stayed at a brothel known for facilitating commercial sex with adolescent boys. Holmberg reportedly used the alias "Sean Evans" to avoid having his real name appear in the brothel's records due to his political standing. Witnesses informed law enforcement investigators that during these trips, Holmberg visited public parks to seek sexual contact with underage boys.

In addition to the acts committed in Prague, Holmberg used the alias to inform friends about his trips and encouraged them to join him. He shared an image of an adolescent boy referring to him as "his twink," writing, "no one is ever too young . . . remember Prague." In other communication, he linked a brothel to a friend, suggesting a visit, and stated, "The boys rent at around $60 . . . (sex is extra)," adding, "It will be decadent but oh so much fun bro. What happens in Prague—Stays in Prague." In the United States, Holmberg reportedly boasted about sexual activities with minors as young as 12 and 15.

Holmberg's misconduct was not confined to his visits abroad. The sentencing memorandum describes his online manipulation of a 16-year-old Canadian boy. By pretending to be a boy of similar age, Holmberg persuaded the Canadian teenager to send explicit images.

Holmberg entered a guilty plea on August 8, 2024, admitting to traveling abroad for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct.

Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Puhl for the District of North Dakota announced the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Grand Forks, and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations. Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, along with Acting U.S. Attorney Puhl, are prosecuting the case.

The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse, first launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006.

For further information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.