SIOUX FALLS, SD – Terry Zoppe, a 49-year-old resident of Sioux Falls, will spend over a decade in federal prison after being sentenced for the abhorrent crime of Transportation of Child Pornography. U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier handed down the 11-year and three-month sentence on February 13, 2023, followed by five years of supervised release. Zoppe was also ordered to pay a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The case against Zoppe began to solidify in December 2021 when a federal grand jury returned an indictment. He ultimately pleaded guilty on November 8, 2022, admitting to a pattern of depravity spanning from September 19, 2017, to March 23, 2021. The investigation revealed Zoppe actively sought out and downloaded images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.
According to court documents, Zoppe wasn’t a passive receiver of this horrific material. He actively searched the internet for child pornography, then systematically downloaded the files to two separate Google email accounts. This wasn’t a one-time offense; investigators also discovered child pornography stored on three of Zoppe’s cell phones, proving a deliberate and sustained pattern of collecting and possessing this illegal content. He knowingly downloaded the files, understanding the vile nature of what they contained.
The successful prosecution of Zoppe was a collaborative effort, spearheaded by Homeland Security Investigations, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Sioux Falls Police Department, and the U.S. Marshal’s Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper skillfully prosecuted the case, ensuring Zoppe faced justice for his sickening crimes.
This case was brought forth under the umbrella of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice. The project aims to aggressively combat the escalating epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse by pooling federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute perpetrators like Zoppe, and crucially, to rescue the victims of these heinous acts. More information on Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Following the sentencing, Terry Zoppe was immediately taken into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his lengthy prison sentence. This conviction serves as a stark warning: those who prey on children will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice, no matter where they hide. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on similar prosecutions across the nation.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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