Minnesota Man Sentenced to 210 Months for Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Pipestone, Minnesota, man convicted of Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier on February 26, 2018.

Roger Blaisdell, age 60, was sentenced to 210 months in custody, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Blaisdell was indicted for intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and attempted production of child pornography by a federal grand jury on November 1, 2016.  He pled guilty on October 12, 2017.

“Our office is fortunate to be able to work with the dedicated law enforcement teams at Homeland Security Investigations and ICE in putting criminals like this behind bars where they belong,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “Our children and our communities are safer today because of their efforts.”

On October 14, 2016, Blaisdell responded to an advertisement on the Craigslist internet website. Unknown to Blaisdell, an undercover law enforcement officer had placed the advertisement. Through a series of emails and text messages, Blaisdell arranged to have sexual contact with a 10-year-old female and a 13-year-old female at a hotel in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. On October 19, 2016, Blaisdell traveled from his residence in Pipestone to the hotel in Sioux Falls, where he had rented a room.

“This sentencing sends a very strong message to child predators that HSI is committed to working with federal prosecutors to protect children from sexual predators,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Eugene Paulauskas of HSI St. Paul. “The men and women of HSI are dedicated to relentlessly seeking justice for the victims of these horrendous crimes.”

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Clapper prosecuted the case.

Blaisdell was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.