MARCH 2024:
A U.S. District Judge has decided on the penalty for a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Production of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on March 4, 2024.
Jayden Kusiek Wolf, age 24, was sentenced to 19 years and seven months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Wolf will also need to register as a sex offender upon his release.
Wolf was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2022. He pleaded guilty on November 30, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from incidents between May 25, 2021, and July 7, 2021, when Wolf persuaded a minor female in Sioux Falls to send him sexually explicit images of herself. Wolf used the social media app Snapchat to induce the minor to send explicit photographs to him.
“This case underscores the dangers of social media in the hands of vulnerable youth,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “Here, Jayden Wolf used Snapchat to entice very young victims into sharing sexually explicit images of themselves. Their lives have been forever changed by his predatory behavior. We are grateful to our law enforcement partners at Homeland Security Investigations for uncovering Wolf’s criminal activity, and we hope this case will serve as a reminder to parents throughout South Dakota that they must be vigilant in monitoring their children’s use of social media.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul special agents work tirelessly to combat child predators like Wolf,” said Jamie Holt, HSI St. Paul Special Agent in Charge. “We will continue to fight against the exploitation of children and support victims by providing critical resources and services. Well done to the HSI special agents in South Dakota and our law enforcement community partners for bringing Wolf to justice for his reprehensible crimes.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
APRIL 2022:
A federal grand jury has indicted a Sioux Falls man for Production of Child Pornography.
Jayden Kusiek Wolf, age 22, pled not guilty.
The Indictment alleges that between on or about May 25, 2021, and July 7, 2021, Kusiek Wolf knowingly employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced two minor females in Sioux Falls to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions, and knowing that such visual depictions would be transported in interstate and foreign commerce or mailed, and such visual depictions would be produced by any means, including by computer.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 30 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Sioux Falls Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, and the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Department.
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