SE Minnesota Man Sentenced in International Child Sex Crimes Case

Minneapolis, MN (KROC-AM News) - A southeastern Minnesota man has been sentenced in federal court in an international sex crimes case involving children.

According to court records, 61-year-old Steven John Sokel of Blooming Prairie was accused of aiding and abetting efforts of other people to coerce minor girls outside of the United States to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. Federal prosecutors alleged Sokel participated in the international conspiracy from November 2021 through April 2022.

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According to an indictment handed down by a federal grand jury last April, Sokel was caught in possession of child sexual abuse materials while he was returning to the U.S. after traveling to Thailand as a result of an investigation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

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Last July, Sokel entered into a plea agreement and admitted to a single count of sexual exploitation of children. He has now been sentenced to more than 17 years in federal prison.

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Source: SE Minnesota Man Sentenced in International Child Sex Crimes Case