81-Year-Old Ex-Senator Gets 10 Years for Paying for Sex with Boys in Prague — Judge Slams Him as Still a Threat

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Former North Dakota state senator Raymon (Ray) Everett Holmberg, a Republican who served an unprecedented 45 years in the state legislature—making him one of the longest-serving lawmakers in U.S. history—was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on March 26, 2025.The 81-year-old from Grand Forks, North Dakota, pleaded guilty on August 8, 2024, to a single count of traveling in foreign commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct. According to the U.S. Department of Justice and court documents, Holmberg made approximately 14 trips to Prague, Czech Republic, between 2011 and 2021. During these visits, he paid for and engaged in commercial sex acts with adolescent boys and sought out underage minors for sexual exploitation.Prosecutors detailed how Holmberg sometimes used the alias “Sean Evans” to conceal his identity, particularly when communicating about the trips or encouraging others to join him. He referenced his prominent position as a state legislator to help avoid scrutiny or documentation of his real name in certain contexts. Court records and sentencing memoranda described a pattern of behavior involving the exploitation of vulnerable minors abroad, with investigators uncovering evidence of repeated, deliberate travel for this purpose.The case fell under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative dedicated to combating child exploitation, sexual abuse, and pornography. It drew intense national scrutiny due to Holmberg’s decades-long career in public office, where he held significant influence as a veteran Republican legislator from Grand Forks.At sentencing in U.S. District Court in Fargo, both the prosecution and defense had recommended a term within federal guidelines—roughly 37 to 46 months (about 3 to 4 years)—citing factors such as Holmberg’s advanced age, poor health, and lack of prior criminal record. However, U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland imposed a much harsher 120-month (10-year) sentence, departing upward from the guidelines. The judge described Holmberg’s actions as “egregious and despicable,” emphasized the ongoing threat he posed to underage boys, and stated that a shorter term would not adequately deter similar offenses or reflect the gravity of the crimes.Following the sentencing, Holmberg did not file an appeal. He was initially held in Cass County Jail before transfer to federal custody, eventually moving to a facility in Rochester, Minnesota, to serve his term. He also faces 10 years of supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence and lifetime registration as a sex offender.The conviction and sentencing concluded a high-profile investigation that began surfacing publicly around 2022, leading to Holmberg’s resignation from the legislature that year amid probes into child sex tourism and related allegations (including separate claims of receipt of child pornography, though the guilty plea focused on the travel charge). The case has sparked broader discussions about accountability for long-serving public officials, the global issue of child sex tourism, and the importance of federal efforts to protect vulnerable children from exploitation.