Thief River Falls resident Benjamin Joseph Roggenbuck, 38, is facing a federal indictment on multiple counts of child pornography production, distribution, and possession—allegations that paint a harrowing picture of exploitation involving prepubescent minors.
According to a recently unsealed indictment, Roggenbuck used or attempted to use two young children to produce sexually explicit visual depictions over a nine-day span in February 2020. The charges include two counts of production and attempted production of child pornography, one count of distribution, and one count of possession—all stemming from what authorities describe as deliberate and predatory acts.
Roggenbuck appeared before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was ordered held without bond pending trial. The case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chelsea A. Walcker and Miranda E. Dugi, marks another aggressive move by federal law enforcement in targeting child sexual exploitation.
The investigation was led by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Thief River Falls Police Department, whose collaboration helped dismantle a hidden network of abuse. Evidence detailed in the indictment shows Roggenbuck not only created illicit material but also distributed images of a prepubescent child—offenses that carry severe mandatory minimum penalties under federal law.
This case falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat the rising tide of online child exploitation. Through coordinated efforts between federal, state, and local agencies, the program aims to identify offenders, rescue victims, and secure convictions in an arena where digital footprints often lead straight to predators.
Benjamin Joseph Roggenbuck, 38, of Thief River Falls, Minnesota, remains in federal custody. The charges against him are merely accusations; he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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