Fargo, ND, Man Sentenced to 35 Years for Multiple Offenses Involving Transportation of a One-Year-Old Child for the Purpose of Sexual Abuse and Distribution of Child Pornography

Fargo – United States Attorney Christopher C. Myers announced that on January 8, 2019, United States District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier, District of South Dakota, sentenced Dustin William Kewley, age 36, Fargo, North Dakota, to serve 35 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release for the charges of Conspiracy to Transport a Minor, Transportation of a Minor, Distribution of Materials Containing Child Pornography, and Possession of Materials Containing Child Pornography.  Kewley was further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $12,640 to the victim and $400 in special assessments to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

 This case was brought to the attention of law enforcement after Kewley began communicating with an undercover officer from the Metropolitan Police Department – FBI Child Exploitation Task Force in Washington, DC.   During their conversations, Kewley relayed that he was preparing to sexually abuse a one-year-old child during which time he would produce a visual depiction of such conduct.  In addition, Kewley electronically sent the undercover officer a child pornographic video depicting a prepubescent female being sexually abused by an adult male.  

After the FBI Task Force identified Kewley as residing in Fargo, North Dakota, it immediately notified the FBI’s field office in Fargo, North Dakota, for further investigation.  The FBI and the North Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force immediately responded to Kewley’s residence to rescue the child.  A subsequent search of Kewley’s residence produced Kewley’s computer and cellphone.  A subsequent forensic examination of Kewley’s computer and cell phone revealed child pornography, as well as text conversations between Kewley and the co-defendant, Bryan Hogle, from Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Further investigation revealed that on May 22, 2017, Kewley transported the one-year-old child from Fargo, North Dakota, to Moorhead, Minnesota, to meet Hogle who traveled from Las Vegas, Nevada, the previous day.  Specifically, the two men met at a hotel in Moorhead where together they sexually abused the child. 

In July 2018, Hogle pled guilty to the offenses of Conspiracy to Transport a Minor, and Coercion and Enticement.  Hogle will be sentenced January 25, 2019.

This case was investigated by the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation; Federal Bureau of Investigations; Homeland Security Investigations; Fargo Police Department; and FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. 

Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Puhl prosecuted the case.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the nation, Project Safe Childhood, in conjunction with Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), help federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies enhance their investigative responses to offenders who use the Internet, online communications systems, or computer technology to sexually exploit children. The ICAC Program is a national network of 61 coordinated task forces engaging in proactive investigations, forensic investigations, and criminal prosecutions. Project Safe Childhood also helps to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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