Alexandros Thymaras, Attempted Trafficking in Involuntary Servitude and Forced Labor, South Dakota 2018

A Calgary man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for Attempted Trafficking in Involuntary Servitude and Forced Labor.

Alexandros Thymaras, 35, was one of five men arrested during an undercover sex trafficking operation conducted during the 2014 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. Thymaras was federally indicted for Commercial Sex Trafficking.

The conviction stemmed from Thymaras responding to a Craigslist.com advertisement posted by Division of Criminal Investigation undercover agents, which purported to offer young girls for sex. Following several messages with a person Thymaras believed to be associated with a 15 year-old girl, but who was in fact an undercover agent, he proceeded to negotiate the time and place they would meet, along with the price he would pay, which was $70.

The undercover operation and arrests were a joint effort between the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff's office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Collins prosecuted the case.

On January 19, 2018, Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court, sentenced Thymaras to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by 1 year of supervised release. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, a $1,000 fine, and a $5,000 special assessment to victims of trafficking fund.

Thymaras was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshal's Service.

The case highlights the ongoing threat of sex trafficking in the United States, particularly during large events like the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Law enforcement agencies must continue to work together to combat this serious crime.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/canadian-man-sentenced-internet-crime