Nathan Paul Grondahl, Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with a Minor, South Dakota 2021

A Minnesota man was sentenced to a lengthy prison term for his role in a disturbing case of traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

Nathan Paul Grondahl, a 25-year-old from St. Cloud, Minnesota, was convicted of Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with a Minor and sentenced on June 14, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.

According to court documents, Grondahl was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 10, 2019, for his involvement in an incident that took place on November 22, 2019. On that day, Grondahl left his home in Minnesota to travel to Hartford, South Dakota, with the intent to engage in illegal sexual conduct with a 13-year-old female whom he had met on social media.

Grondahl had been communicating with the minor for a few days before making the trip, and he also requested that she send him nude pictures of herself. The investigation into Grondahl’s actions was led by the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuting the case.

Grondahl ultimately pled guilty to the charges on March 22, 2021, and was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $5,100.

Grondahl was allowed to self-surrender by June 28, 2021, and will now face the consequences of his actions. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of online predators and the importance of protecting our children from those who would seek to harm them.

The investigation and prosecution of Grondahl’s case were a collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies and prosecutors who worked tirelessly to bring him to justice. Their dedication to keeping our communities safe is commendable, and we are grateful for their hard work and determination.

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