“We are experiencing an epidemic of online-facilitated sex abuse in Minnesota,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Minnesota man has been charged in a federal child pornography case.
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The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Minnesota announced the charges on Tuesday.
Prosecutors say he met the girl online and drove to Iowa to meet her. The news release also indicates there could be more victims in the case.
Minneapolis Man Charged in Federal Child Pornography Case Involving Iowa Teen
37-year-old Michael Benjamin Thompson of Minneapolis is charged with one count of production child pornography and a count of attempted production of child pornography.
Federal court documents allege Thompson met the victim online and engaged in sexual activities with the minor when he drove to Iowa to meet her last December.
Thompson and the teen then continued to message. In January, Thompson convinced the victim to send him a sexually explicit photo of herself, according to the news release.
“We are experiencing an epidemic of online-facilitated sex abuse in Minnesota,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “My office will continue to aggressively prosecute predators who use the internet to prey on our vulnerable children.”
Officials are asking anyone who may have been a victim of Thompson’s to contact the FBI. Thompson was ordered to remain in custody following his first court appearance last week pending further proceedings.
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