Sioux Falls Man Charged with Child Pornography Charges
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography and Attempted Production of Child Pornography. Tyson Thill, age 43, was indicted on September 9, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on September 14, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 30 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and up to $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered. Count one of the Indictment alleges that between on or about February 12, 2021, and July 28, 2021, Thill knowingly received, and attempted to receive, child pornography that had been mailed, shipped, and transported in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce by any mean, including by computer. Count two of the Indictment alleges that between on or about February 8, 2019, and July 28, 2021, Thill knowingly attempted to employ, use, persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct, knowing such visual depictions would be transported in interstate or foreign commerce or mailed, shipped, and transported by computer. The charges are merely accusations and Thill is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case. Thill was released on bond pending trial, which has been set for November 23, 2021.
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