Rapid City Man Sentenced for Attempted Possession of Child Pornography

Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Possession of Child Pornography was sentenced on July 20, 2021, by Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.

Darren Harrison, age 26, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.  Harrison was also ordered to pay a total of $100 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Harrison was arrested and federally indicted as a result of an undercover sex trafficking operation conducted during the 2020 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, targeting online predators.  Following multiple online communications with a person Harrison believed to be a 15 year-old girl, but who was in fact an undercover agent, he proceeded to negotiate the time and place he would meet the minor to engage in unlawful sex acts.  When Harrison went to the pre-determined location to meet the minor, he was instead met by law enforcement agents and placed under arrest. 

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.

Harrison was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.