Seven arrested in multi-agency sex-trafficking sting at Sturgis Rally

RAPID CITY, S.D. – A multi-agency sex-trafficking operation conducted during the 2024 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally led to seven arrests.

United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Ellsworth AFB Office of Special Investigations, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and Rapid City Police Department collaborated on the operation, which ran from August 2 to August 8, 2024.

The operation aimed to apprehend individuals attempting to arrange sexual encounters with minors. Those arrested and charged are:

Brockton Dominquez, 26, Rapid City – Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet
Eli Poorman, 20, Rapid City – Attempted Commercial Sex Trafficking of a Minor
Dustin Day, 20, Piedmont – Attempted Commercial Sex Trafficking of a Minor
Vance Coats, 25, Box Elder – Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet
Brandon Bishop, 36, Rapid City – Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet
Corey Simon, 36, Rapid City – Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet
Aaron Ray Williams, Jr., 23, Rapid City – Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet

“Once again, this operation demonstrates the sad reality that there are individuals in our communities who are using the Internet to target young girls for sex,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “We are grateful to our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, who regularly collaborate to safeguard children across South Dakota. Because of their work, the Rapid City community is a little safer this week.”

The mandatory minimum sentence for a conviction of Attempted Commercial Sex Trafficking of a Minor under the age of fourteen is 15 to 30 years in federal prison, along with a supervised release term ranging from five years to life.

For Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, the mandatory minimum sentence is 10 years to life in federal prison, with supervised release ranging from five years to life.

These charges are accusations, and all seven defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. Managed by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood brings together federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more details, visit Project Safe Childhood.