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Press Release

Blaine Man Sentenced To 25 Years In Prison For Production And Possession Of Child Pornography

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Minnesota

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald announced the sentencing of SCOTT FRANCIS FORTIER, 39, to 25 years in prison for producing and possessing video files containing child pornography. FORTIER, who was convicted by a federal jury on January 25, 2018, on one count of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, was sentenced on November 7, 2018, before Judge Patrick J. Schiltz in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In addressing the defendant’s conduct, Judge Schiltz referred to FORTIER and the campers at Circle R Ranch as, “a wolf let loose in a field of sheep,” and further described FORTIER’S dishonest testimony at trial as so preposterous as to be embarrassing.

“Scott Fortier is a serial predator and rapist who victimized underage girls whom he met at a summer camp where he frequented,” said U.S. Attorney MacDonald. “I am grateful that the Court recognized the severity of this type of predatory conduct and I commend the diligent work of the investigators and prosecutors in bringing this defendant to justice.”

"The defendant used his position in the camp to prey on his victims and then further victimized them by producing child pornography and we are satisfied that he will now have to pay for his crimes,” said Special Agent in Charge Jill Sanborn. “We have no greater duty than to protect the most vulnerable among us, and the men and women of the FBI will continue to relentlessly pursue those who seek to harm our children.”

As proven at trial, FORTIER was associated for many years with Circle R Ranch (“the Camp”), a co-ed horseback riding summer camp located in Todd County, Minn. Through his involvement with the Camp, FORTIER met a 17-year-old minor (Minor Victim #1). On September 9, 2016, FORTIER invited Minor Victim #1 and her 15-year-old friend (Minor Victim #2) to his house in Blaine, Minnesota, where he gave them both alcohol and subsequently used each minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct. FORTIER used his cell phone to produce multiple videos of himself engaging in the sexually explicit conduct with Minor Victim #1 and Minor Victim #2. Following an execution of a search warrant, law enforcement discovered that FORTIER also possessed videos of children under the age of 12 engaging is sexually explicit conduct, along with thousands of other images of child pornography.

At the sentencing hearing, the Government introduced statements by Minor Victim #1 and Minor Victim #2, as well as statements by a number of other victims detailing years of sexual misconduct and rapes committed by FORTIER against underage girls at the Circle R Ranch.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, the Todd County Sheriff’s Office, and the Minneapolis Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol M. Kayser and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Middlecamp prosecuted the case.

 

Defendant Information:

SCOTT FRANCIS FORTIER, 39

Blaine, Minn.

Convicted:

  • Production of child pornography, 1 count
  • Possession of child pornography, 1 count

Sentenced:

  • 300 months in prison
  • 10 years of supervised release

 

 

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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600

Updated November 8, 2018

Topic
Project Safe Childhood