United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell has announced a chilling sentence for Vincent Alberto Barrios, 43, of Box Elder, South Dakota. Today, U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced Barrios to life in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay a $600 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The sentencing came after a three-day jury trial in December 2023 where Barrios was found guilty on multiple counts including Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, and Receipt of Child Pornography. Each Sexual Exploitation charge received a 30-year sentence, while each Enticement and Receipt charge garnered a 20-year term. These sentences are to be served concurrently.
Barrios’ downfall began during the 2023 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally when he was apprehended in an undercover sex trafficking operation targeting internet predators. After engaging in multiple chats and sending sexually explicit text messages with what he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, Barrios attempted to arrange a meeting for unlawful sex acts. Instead, law enforcement agents intercepted him.
Further investigation revealed that Barrios was also communicating with two other undercover agents posing as teenagers, and had engaged in conversations with a real 14-year-old girl. Child pornography was discovered on his phone following his arrest.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The investigation was conducted by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, HSI, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
Barrios has been remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following his conviction.
Related Federal Cases
- McLaughlin Man Facing Life Sentence for Aggravated Sexual Abuse · South Dakota
- Boyles Gets 11+ Years for Online Exploitation of Minor · South Dakota
- Mission Man Gets 18-Month Sentence for Sex Abuse of Minor · West Virginia
- NY Man Gets 10-Year Sentence for Enticement of Minor in Rapid City · New York
- Predator Richard Gets 24 Years for Minor Transport · Minnesota
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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