Federal Jury Convicts Texas Man of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that Ira Alan Arias, age 42, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Sisseton, South Dakota, was found guilty of three counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child, as a result of a federal jury trial in Aberdeen, South Dakota.  The verdict was returned on April 18, 2018.

The charge carries a penalty of a mandatory minimum of 30 years up to life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, a mandatory minimum term of five years up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

Arias was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 4, 2018. 

On or about May 3, 2015, Arias forcefully engaged in three sexual acts with the victim, who was 14 years old at the time of the sexual abuse.  The sexual abuse occurred in a hotel room in Codington County. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri.

A presentence investigation was ordered and Arias will be sentenced on July 9, 2018.  Arias was detained pending and during trial, and he remains in federal custody.