Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography
In a disturbing case of online exploitation, a Sioux Falls man has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for producing child pornography. Thomas William Tatar, 38, was sentenced on November 25, 2024, after being convicted of Production of Child Pornography.
The investigation, which was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation, revealed that Tatar had been grooming a 10-year-old girl through the online application “Discord”. He convinced the child into thinking they were in a romantic relationship, which ultimately led to him convincing her to create and send him depictions of herself engaged in sexually explicit behavior.
“Using the Internet, this defendant targeted a 10-year-old girl and persuaded her to share pornographic images of herself,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “His 30-year sentence rightfully reflects the gravity of his crime.”
Tatar was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2024 and pleaded guilty on September 11, 2024. He was also ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100 and restitution in the amount of $3,000.
As part of his sentence, Tatar must register as a sex offender upon release from federal prison. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Sioux Falls Police Department, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case. Tatar was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
This case is a reminder to parents and caretakers across the state to be vigilant when it comes to their children’s use of smartphones, tablets, and gaming devices. The online platforms provide defendants like Tatar an avenue to target and victimize children.
Project Safe Childhood, launched in May 2006, marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Related Federal Cases
- Skyler Two Dogs, Abusive Sexual Contact, South Dakota 2021 · South Dakota
- William Nicholas Riley, Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography, South Dakota 2021 · South Dakota
- John McKenzie, Child Pornography Distribution, South Dakota 2018 · South Dakota
- Ryan Davies, Child Pornography Possession, South Dakota 2018 · South Dakota
- Dylan James Steffen, Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, South Dakota 2021 · South Dakota
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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