A former North Dakota lawmaker was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

Ray Holmberg, 81, was a Grand Forks state senator for 45 years, and received a sentence that is longer than federal sentencing guidelines. 

U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland characterized Holmberg’s conduct as “egregious and despicable” and said he didn’t think the guideline sentence of more than three years was adequate.

“From my perspective, this was not an isolated case and this is not a victimless crime,” Hovland said. “It displays a pattern of very vile, sickening criminal behavior.”

Holmberg, who appeared in court wearing shackles and a bright orange jail uniform, will also have to register as a sex offender.

Prosecutors allege Holmberg traveled to Prague in the Czech Republic 14 times between 2011 and 2021 to pay for sex with boys. 

North Dakota’s acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl said if prosecutors had been able to identify victims in Prague, they would have requested a longer sentence. 

“These boys experienced harm,” Klemetsrud Puhl said. 

She also described what she characterized as Holmberg’s history of leveraging his power to exploit boys and young men.

Though not part of the charges against Holmberg, two men who said they met him in North Dakota and were victimized by him gave emotional testimony at the hearing. One said Holmberg gave him money to film sex acts in the 1990s. The other man who spoke at the hearing was a cooperating witness who said Holmberg used his political power to groom them for sex. 

Defense attorney Mark Friese argued prosecutors had not presented evidence that underage boys were involved or that Holmberg ever assaulted a minor. He also emphasized that Holmberg had no criminal history and was not charged with other crimes.

Friese advocated for no prison time, arguing a sentence of time already served in jail and home confinement were more appropriate given Holmberg’s health and age.

Source: NorthDakotaMonitor