Roger Blaisdell Gets 210 Months for Child Sex Lure

Roger Blaisdell, a 60-year-old man from Pipestone, Minnesota, was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison on February 26, 2018, for traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with minors. U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier handed down the sentence after Blaisdell pleaded guilty to federal charges tied to a calculated attempt to meet two underage girls for sex in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The trap was set by an undercover law enforcement officer who posted a Craigslist advertisement in October 2016. Blaisdell responded on October 14, unaware he was communicating with federal agents. Over a series of emails and text messages, he explicitly arranged to have sexual contact with a purported 10-year-old girl and a 13-year-old girl at a hotel in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

On October 19, 2016, Blaisdell followed through, driving from his home in Pipestone to the prearranged hotel where he had already reserved a room. He was arrested upon arrival, still carrying condoms and other items indicating intent. Though no actual children were involved, the setup was legally sufficient to pursue charges under federal statutes targeting predatory behavior.

Blaisdell was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 1, 2016, on counts of intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and attempted production of child pornography. He entered a guilty plea on October 12, 2017. In addition to his prison term, he was sentenced to 10 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

‘Our office is fortunate to be able to work with the dedicated law enforcement teams at Homeland Security Investigations and ICE in putting criminals like this behind bars where they belong,’ said U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons. ‘Our children and our communities are safer today because of their efforts.’

‘This sentencing sends a very strong message to child predators that HSI is committed to working with federal prosecutors to protect children from sexual predators,’ said Acting Special Agent in Charge Eugene Paulauskas of HSI St. Paul. Blaisdell was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following sentencing. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Clapper and investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security.