AP — A powerful former North Dakota lawmaker pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to a charge that he traveled to Europe with the intent to pay for sex with a minor.
Ray Holmberg, 80, of Grand Forks, admitted in court that he had paid young male masseuses, with some of whom he had sexual contact, during multiple visits to the Czech Republic, though he said he did not know for certain how old they were. Holmberg was indicted in October for travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity and receipt and attempted receipt of child sexual abuse material.
The Republican served more than 45 years in the North Dakota Senate before resigning in Under a plea agreement he signed in June, Holmberg agreed to plead guilty to the former charge, and prosecutors would move to dismiss the latter and recommend a sentence at the low end of the guideline range. Judge Daniel Hovland accepted his plea and allowed Holmberg to remain released, with restrictions, until a later sentencing hearing.
Wearing a dark suit, the disgraced former lawmaker declined to comment after the hearing. In court, Assistant U.
Attorney Jennifer Puhl detailed the allegations against Holmberg, including his emails with others related to his encounters in Prague. Puhl said he made 14 trips to Prague from to and frequented a villa that one travel companion described as a brothel that had teenage male masseuses.
