Ex-N.D. Lawmaker Traveled Overseas to Sexually Abuse Young Boys: 'What Happens in Prague — Stays in Prague'

Mar. 15, 2025

Former North Dakota Senator Ray Holmberg at the state’s capitol building in Bismarck, N.D. in 2009. He resigned in 2022 amid allegations connecting him to another suspected child sex abuser.Photo:AP Photo/Will KincaidA long-serving prominent former state senator out of North Dakota entered a guilty plea in federal court, admitting he traveled to Prague during his political tenure for the purpose of sexually abusing young boys.Ray Holmberg — a Republican lawmaker who served in North Dakota’s Legislative Assembly from 1997 until his June 1, 2022resignationover allegationsconnecting him to another suspected child sex abuser– traveled about 14 times to the Czech Republic’s capital city where “young boys provided commercial sexual services” to the lawmaker, federal prosecutors said in apress release.“This is an important milestone in North Dakota’s battle against child sex trafficking,” Attorney General Drew Wrigley said in astatementfollowing the guilty plea. “Former State Senator Ray Holmberg has admitted his heinous crimes and now stands convicted of conduct that fuels the domestic and global sexual exploitation of children. This is an important step toward justice.”Sometimes on the trips to Prague, which occurred over a decade between 2011 and 2021, he would venture to a public park fronting the city’s main train station “to procure sex from minor boys,” per prosecutors.Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.Holmberg, who is now 80, also sometimes stayed at a brothel under the name “Sean Evans,” an alias which he also used when talking with friends about the trips, according to prosecutors, who quoted from the communications.In those notes, prosecutors say Holmberg wrote: “no one is ever too young . . . remember Prague.”In a message to a friend he suggested that they travel together to a brothel in Prague.“Let’s go, this summer . . . The boys rent at around $60 (sex is extra),” he allegedly wrote.He went on to write: “It will be decadent but oh so much fun bro. What happens in Prague—Stays in Prague.”In emails to at least one employee at the brothel, he specified that he wanted a “kid.”On Thursday, Aug. 8, Holmberg pleaded guilty to one count of traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and faces up to 30 years in a federal prison.His sentencing was not immediately scheduled.

Former North Dakota Senator Ray Holmberg at the state’s capitol building in Bismarck, N.D. in 2009. He resigned in 2022 amid allegations connecting him to another suspected child sex abuser.Photo:AP Photo/Will Kincaid

AP Photo/Will Kincaid

A long-serving prominent former state senator out of North Dakota entered a guilty plea in federal court, admitting he traveled to Prague during his political tenure for the purpose of sexually abusing young boys.Ray Holmberg — a Republican lawmaker who served in North Dakota’s Legislative Assembly from 1997 until his June 1, 2022resignationover allegationsconnecting him to another suspected child sex abuser– traveled about 14 times to the Czech Republic’s capital city where “young boys provided commercial sexual services” to the lawmaker, federal prosecutors said in apress release.“This is an important milestone in North Dakota’s battle against child sex trafficking,” Attorney General Drew Wrigley said in astatementfollowing the guilty plea. “Former State Senator Ray Holmberg has admitted his heinous crimes and now stands convicted of conduct that fuels the domestic and global sexual exploitation of children. This is an important step toward justice.”Sometimes on the trips to Prague, which occurred over a decade between 2011 and 2021, he would venture to a public park fronting the city’s main train station “to procure sex from minor boys,” per prosecutors.Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.Holmberg, who is now 80, also sometimes stayed at a brothel under the name “Sean Evans,” an alias which he also used when talking with friends about the trips, according to prosecutors, who quoted from the communications.In those notes, prosecutors say Holmberg wrote: “no one is ever too young . . . remember Prague.”In a message to a friend he suggested that they travel together to a brothel in Prague.“Let’s go, this summer . . . The boys rent at around $60 (sex is extra),” he allegedly wrote.He went on to write: “It will be decadent but oh so much fun bro. What happens in Prague—Stays in Prague.”In emails to at least one employee at the brothel, he specified that he wanted a “kid.”On Thursday, Aug. 8, Holmberg pleaded guilty to one count of traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and faces up to 30 years in a federal prison.His sentencing was not immediately scheduled.

A long-serving prominent former state senator out of North Dakota entered a guilty plea in federal court, admitting he traveled to Prague during his political tenure for the purpose of sexually abusing young boys.

Ray Holmberg — a Republican lawmaker who served in North Dakota’s Legislative Assembly from 1997 until his June 1, 2022resignationover allegationsconnecting him to another suspected child sex abuser– traveled about 14 times to the Czech Republic’s capital city where “young boys provided commercial sexual services” to the lawmaker, federal prosecutors said in apress release.

“This is an important milestone in North Dakota’s battle against child sex trafficking,” Attorney General Drew Wrigley said in astatementfollowing the guilty plea. “Former State Senator Ray Holmberg has admitted his heinous crimes and now stands convicted of conduct that fuels the domestic and global sexual exploitation of children. This is an important step toward justice.”

Sometimes on the trips to Prague, which occurred over a decade between 2011 and 2021, he would venture to a public park fronting the city’s main train station “to procure sex from minor boys,” per prosecutors.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Holmberg, who is now 80, also sometimes stayed at a brothel under the name “Sean Evans,” an alias which he also used when talking with friends about the trips, according to prosecutors, who quoted from the communications.

In those notes, prosecutors say Holmberg wrote: “no one is ever too young . . . remember Prague.”

In a message to a friend he suggested that they travel together to a brothel in Prague.

“Let’s go, this summer . . . The boys rent at around $60 (sex is extra),” he allegedly wrote.

He went on to write: “It will be decadent but oh so much fun bro. What happens in Prague—Stays in Prague.”

In emails to at least one employee at the brothel, he specified that he wanted a “kid.”

On Thursday, Aug. 8, Holmberg pleaded guilty to one count of traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and faces up to 30 years in a federal prison.

His sentencing was not immediately scheduled.

source: people.com