Sturgis Man Sentenced for Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Sturgis, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography was sentenced on November 2, 2020, by Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court Judge.

Robert Bungert, age 57, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by  five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Bungert also will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

The conviction stemmed from an undercover sex trafficking operation conducted during the 2018 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, targeting internet predators.  Bungert was arrested and federally indicted following multiple text messages with a person Bungert believed to be a 14-year-old prostitute, but who was in fact an undercover agent.  Bungert knowingly attempted to receive an image of child pornography from the 14-year-old undercover persona and proceeded to negotiate the time and place he would meet the minor to engage in unlawful sex acts.  When Bungert went to the pre-determined location to meet the minor’s pimp, he was instead met by law enforcement agents and placed under arrest.

The investigation was conducted by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Sturgis Police Department, and the Meade County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.

Bungert was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.