Elderly North Dakota Republican Party leader pleads guilty to traveling abroad to play games with young boys

WASHINGTON, DC – Ray Holmberg, an 80-year-old former North Dakota state senator from Grand Forks, has pleaded guilty to charges related to engaging in illicit sex acts with minors in Prague, Czech Republic.

Court documents show that Holmberg traveled to Prague approximately 14 times between 2011 and 2021, where he engaged in commercial sex acts with underage boys.

Holmberg used the pseudonym “Sean Evans” during some of these visits. He stayed in brothels and went to public places to solicit sexual services from minors.

His communications under this alias contained disturbing references to his activities, such as discussing “his twink” and remarking, “no one is ever too young… don’t forget Prague.”

He also sent an email to a friend promoting a visit to a well-known brothel, Villa Mansland, emphasizing the low cost of hiring young boys for sex.

The former senator pleaded guilty to one count of traveling with the intent to engage in an unlawful sexual act, a charge that carries a maximum prison sentence of 30 years.

The sentencing date has yet to be determined. A federal district judge will determine the sentence, taking into account, among other things, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

The case was announced by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Puhl for the District of North Dakota, and Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul. The investigation is being conducted by HSI and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations, with prosecution led by Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Puhl.

WASHINGTON, DC – Deon Cannon, a 30-year-old resident of Washington, DC, has been found guilty of multiple charges, including assault with intent to kill while armed of a minor, following a shooting on Labor Day in 2021. U.S. District Attorney Matthew Graves and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith announced the verdict, which was delivered by a jury in the District Court on August 7, 2024.

The incident occurred at approximately 5:40 p.m. on September 5, 2021, at Naylor Gardens on Terrace Road SE. According to evidence presented by the prosecution, Cannon was waiting for the victims, a father and his 6-year-old son, to arrive as they walked from a playground.

Cannon initiated the attack by firing two shots at them, prompting the father to return fire in defense. A second gunman then emerged and fired another 17 shots.

Cannon attempted to flee the scene but was captured shortly after the shooting, in part because his clothing matched surveillance video from nearby homes. Prosecutors also presented DNA and ballistics evidence linking Cannon to the crime.

In addition to the assault charge, Cannon was also found guilty of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, possession of an unregistered firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.

The Honorable Judge Rainey Brandt scheduled sentencing for October 11, 2024, with Cannon facing a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison. He has been in custody since his arrest.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero has announced charges against Philip C. Pulley, a 62-year-old resident of Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania, on multiple counts of voter fraud, including false registration to vote, double voting and election fraud.

The indictment reveals that Pulley, originally registered in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, also registered in Broward County, Florida, in 2018.

In 2020, he further registered in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania with a fraudulent Philadelphia address and Social Security number. During the 2020 general election, including the presidential race, Pulley requested a mail-in ballot in Philadelphia and voted in both Broward and Montgomery Counties. In the 2022 general election, including the U.S. Senate races, he voted in both Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties.

If found guilty, Pulley faces up to five years in prison, three years of probation, fines ranging from $10,000 to $250,000 and a $100 special levy for each charge.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, with the prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nancy E. Potts and Mark B. Dubnoff, assisted by James Price, Senior Deputy Attorney General and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney.