Blooming Prairie Man Confesses to Federal Crime Involving Children

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) – A southeastern Minnesota man charged in a federal child sexual exploitation case has pleaded guilty.

That is according to a press release issued Friday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in April.

61 years old Steven John Sokel was accused of being an accomplice in efforts by others to coerce underage girls living outside the United States into sexually explicit acts that would be used to produce child pornography.

Court documents show the Blooming Prairie man participated in the international scheme from November 2021 through April 2022.

The indictment also alleges that he was in possession of videos and images depicting minors performing sexual acts.

On Friday, Sokel pleaded guilty to one count of child sexual exploitation, the press release said. His sentencing date has not yet been set.

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