Sioux Falls Man Charged with Receipt, Distribution, and Transportation of Child Pornography

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography and Transportation of Child Pornography.

Joshua Lynn Lugert, age 37, was indicted on September 1, 2020.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on September 8, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 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.

The Indictment alleges that on or about between December 1, 2018, and July 30, 2020, Lugert knowingly received and distributed, and attempted to receive and distribute child pornography that had been mailed, shipped, and transported in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce by any means, including by computer.

The Indictment also alleges that on or about March 12, 2019, and March 6, 2020, Lugert knowingly transported child pornography using the internet.  Lugert uploaded graphic image and video files depicting one or more minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct into a Google e-mail account.

The charges are merely accusation and Lugert is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security, the Division of Criminal Investigation, Office of the Attorney General, the Sioux Falls Police Department, and the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.   

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