SIOUX FALLS – The grim reality of online predators was starkly highlighted as Jaykob Elijah Varner, a 25-year-old man from Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced to serve 15 years and six months in federal prison for producing child pornography and cyberstalking. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange on August 25, 2025, also mandates five years of supervised release following his release from prison.
Varner, who pleaded guilty on June 2, 2025, was indicted in October 2024 by a federal grand jury for incidents spanning from August 1, 2023, to April 13, 2024. During this period, he coerced two juvenile females into sending him nude photographs and videos of themselves via Snapchat. Varner threatened to expose these images to the victims’ families, friends, and classmates if they did not comply with his demands.
U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “This case is a sobering example of the real and serious threats our children face online.” She added, “Although Varner will spend 15 years in federal prison, there are others out there attempting to commit similar crimes.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case, which was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and DCI. The conviction came as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation.
Varner was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service upon sentencing. For more information on Project Safe Childhood and resources for protecting children online, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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