U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell | U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell | U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man on multiple charges related to child pornography. Justin Preuschl, 27, faces six counts of attempted production of child pornography, three counts of production of child pornography, and seven counts of transfer of obscene materials to minors.
Preuschl was indicted in June 2024 and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on June 7, 2024, where he pleaded not guilty to the indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 30 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and up to $1,600 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The indictment alleges that starting in October 2023 and continuing into 2024, Preuschl engaged in sexually explicit communications with multiple juvenile female victims while pretending to be a 15-year-old male. He allegedly pressured the victims into sending him sexually explicit materials and sent pictures of male genitals to them. At the time of many of the charged offenses, Preuschl was employed as a teacher at Whittier Middle School in Sioux Falls.
“These charges are merely accusations and Preuschl is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty,” emphasized Ramsdell.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative involves collaboration among federal, state, and local resources to locate offenders and rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The investigation is ongoing. Authorities urge anyone who has had contact with certain Snapchat or TikTok accounts associated with Preuschl to contact the HSI Tipline at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP or email HSINorthland@hsi.dhs.gov.
The investigation involves Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Sioux Falls Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), and North Liberty Iowa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.
Preuschl has been remanded into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial; a trial date has not yet been set.
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