October 2025:
A U.S. District Judge has sentenced a man and a woman, both from Winner, following their convictions on charges of Sex Trafficking of a Child and Production of Child Pornography.
67 year old Richard Alan Kucera (Kooch-er-a) was sentenced during the federal government shutdown (Oct. 20, 2025) on two counts of Sex Trafficking of a Child and two counts of Production of Child Pornography. He received a punishment of 25 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $400 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
37 year old Ivy Rose Heron was also sentenced during the government shutdown (Oct. 21, 2025) on one count of Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking of a Child. She was given a punishment of seven years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
At trial, the evidence established that between 2019 and 2021, Kucera and Heron entered into an agreement to recruit local girls in the Winner area to engage in sexual activity with Kucera in exchange for payment. Heron received a fee for each girl she recruited whom Kucera selected. Between 2020 and 2021, Heron recruited two 16-year-old girls, each of whom Kucera paid to engage in sexual activity on multiple occasions. Kucera also created child pornography images and videos of both minor victims, which he uploaded to Facebook. The arrangement between Kucera and Heron was discovered in June 2022, when the minor victims were interviewed by law enforcement.
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.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Kucera and Heron were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
July 22, 2025:
A federal jury has found a 67 year old man from Winner guilty of two counts of Sex Trafficking of a Child and two counts of Production of Child Pornography following a four-day trial in Pierre.
The verdict against Richard Alan Kucera (Kooch-er-a) was reached Friday (July 18, 2025).
Each count of Sex Trafficking of a Child carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, and a maximum sentence of life in federal prison, and/or a $250,000 fine and five years up to life of supervised release.
Each count of Production of Child Pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison, and/or a $250,000 fine and five years up to life of supervised release.
Each charge also requires payment of a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Kucera and co-defendant 37 year old Ivy Heron of Winner were indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2023.
At trial, the evidence established that between 2019 and 2021, Kucera and Heron entered into an agreement to recruit local girls to engage in sexual activity with Kucera in exchange for payment. Heron received a fee for each girl she recruited whom Kucera selected. Between 2020 and 2021, Heron recruited two sixteen-year-old girls, each of whom Kucera paid to engage in sexual activity. Kucera also created child pornography images and videos of both minor victims, which he uploaded to Facebook. The arrangement between Kucera and Heron was discovered in June 2022, when the minor victims were interviewed by law enforcement.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date has not yet been set. Kucera was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Heron pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking of a Child on April 9, 2025. She is in custody awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
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.
August 14, 2023:
United States Attorney for South Dakota Alison Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a man and a woman from Winner for two counts of Sex Trafficking of a Child.
Richard Alan Kucera, age 65, and Ivy Rose Heron, age 36, have both pleaded not guilty. Kucera also plead not guilty on two counts of Production of Child Pornography.
The Indictment alleges that in 2020 and 2021, Kucera and Heron intentionally recruited and enticed two juvenile females to engage in commercial sex acts. Both Kucera and Heron financially benefited from their participation in the illegal venture.
The Indictment also alleges that in 2020 and 2021, Kucera coerced the same two minor females to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and up to $400 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Kucera was released on bond pending trial. Heron was remanded to the custody of the US Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has been set for October 3, 2023.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI. Assistant US Attorney Jeffrey Clapper is prosecuting the case.
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 US 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.
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