Sioux Falls Man Found Guilty of Commercial Sex Trafficking

US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man charged with Commercial Sex Trafficking after answering an on-line advertisement has been convicted by a federal jury in Sioux Falls. The charge was the result of an online undercover operation, known as “Operation Crossing Guard,” which was conducted to identify persons who attempt to purchase sex acts with children.

Ron Bonestroo, age 53, replied to an online advertisement posted by undercover police officers. Bonestroo arranged to pay for sex with what he believed would be two 14-year-old girls in Sioux Falls. He was arrested after he arrived at the undercover location. After a one-day trial, a federal jury found Bonestroo guilty of the offense charged in the indictment.

Bonestroo faces a minimum sentence of 10 years incarceration and a maximum of life imprisonment.
The investigation and Operation Crossing Guard were conducted by the US Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office, and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant US Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.

Bonestroo was remanded to the custody of the US Marshal.