Minnesota Man Charged with Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

Acting United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a Pipestone, Minnesota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

Benjamin Douglas Lorenzen, age 30, was indicted on May 4, 2021.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on May 13, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on Lorenzen, who had previously been convicted of a sex crime and required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, failed to do so between January 12, 2021, and March 9, 2021.

The charge is merely an accusation and Lorenzen is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.   

Lorenzen was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.