RAID CITY, SD – The South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) scored a major victory during the 2025 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally when they arrested four men charged with attempting to exploit children. United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that the sophisticated sting operation, which brought together local, state, and federal agencies, was a successful effort to remove sexual predators from the community.
Elmer Hopper, 36, of Rapid City, Beau Remington, 23, of Black Hawk, Jayson “Javi” Gomez, 30, of Rapid City, and Joshua Michael Allen, 36, of Hermosa, were all caught in the operation as they attempted to meet what they believed to be a 14-year-old girl for sexual purposes. Each man faces federal charges ranging from Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet to Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor.
South Dakota ICAC Task Force Commander Toby Russell highlighted the collaborative effort that led to the arrests, noting, ‘This is a sad statistic for our state, but it underscores why these operations are crucial. The teamwork between law enforcement agencies was unparalleled.’
The mandatory minimum penalty for Attempted Enticement of a Minor ranges from 10 years in federal prison up to life, with supervised release also possible. These cases are part of Project Safe Childhood, the Department of Justice’s initiative launched to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox is handling the federal prosecution of these cases, which carry significant penalties. All four defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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