A 62-year-old Rapid City, South Dakota, man has been indicted on federal charges tied to the receipt and possession of child pornography. Charles Drust Jr. was named in a grand jury indictment returned on October 18, 2016, marking the latest case in an ongoing crackdown on online exploitation of minors.
Drust appeared in federal court on November 2, 2016, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann, where he formally pleaded not guilty to both counts. Despite his plea, the evidence centers on his alleged use of a computer to receive and possess graphic, illegal images of children—activity that carries steep federal penalties.
If convicted, Drust faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of up to 20 years behind bars. He could also be fined $250,000, subjected to a minimum of 5 years of supervised release—or the rest of his life under federal supervision—and be forced to pay a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution to victims may also be ordered by the court.
The investigation was led by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Taskforce, a multi-agency unit dedicated to tracking down offenders who exploit minors through digital means. Authorities have not released specifics on how Drust was identified but sources indicate digital forensic methods played a central role in gathering evidence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Collins is prosecuting the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Known for handling high-profile sex crimes, Collins has built a track record of securing convictions in child exploitation cases across South Dakota and neighboring states.
Charles Drust Jr. was taken into federal custody and remains detained pending trial. No trial date has been scheduled. The charges are presumed accusations under federal law, and Drust is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Related Federal Cases
- Jesse Ausbin Brown Gets 20 Years for Child Porn · Florida
- John McKenzie Sentenced to 97 Months for Child Porn Charges · South Dakota
- Yankton Man Dylan Steffen Charged in Child Porn Probe · South Dakota
- Yankton Man Dylan Steffen Copped to Child Porn Charges · South Dakota
- Riley Sentenced for Child Porn · South Dakota
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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