United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Joseph Robert Thompson, a Crookston man, has pleaded guilty to one count of attempted production of child pornography.
According to court documents, on October 13, 2024, Thompson took a series of photos of sexually explicit conduct of a then-six-year-old minor for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct.
Thompson had previously come to law enforcement’s attention after soliciting illicit images from an undercover officer posing as a 14‑year‑old on August 28, 2024. On October 15, 2024, Thompson was arrested, and during a search of his home, investigators seized multiple electronic devices which included additional evidence, including child sexual abuse material and communications between Thompson and an adult male in Missouri. Thompson and the Missouri male exchanged child sexual abuse material and discussed abusing minors. Thompson admitted to distributing and receiving illegal material between August and October 2024.
Thompson pleaded guilty to attempted production of child pornography before United States District Court Judge Nancy E. Brasel on June 29, 2026. This federal felony offense carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison, along with a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
“Today’s guilty plea demonstrates the unwavering commitment of federal, state, and local partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who prey on children,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “Our office will continue to use every available resource to protect vulnerable victims and bring those who harm them to justice.”
“I am extremely proud of the outstanding collaboration between the Crookston Police Department, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI’s Minnesota Child Exploitation Task Force, which culminated in the successful arrest and charging of a dangerous child predator. Protecting our children is one of our highest priorities. We will continue to pursue these offenders relentlessly to hold these offenders responsible to ensure our community is a safer place for our most vulnerable residents,” said Crookston Police Chief Darin Selzler.
“Joseph Robert Thompson’s conviction in this case is just one example of how strong law enforcement partnerships keep our communities safer,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Christopher D. Dotson. “FBI resources, paired with tenacious work from our Task Force Officers from Crookston Police and detectives from Polk County Sheriff’s Office, have combined to take another child predator off of our streets. The Minnesota Child Exploitation Task Force continues to work throughout the state to keep our kids safe online and in our neighborhoods.”
This case was investigated by the Crookston Police Department and Polk County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the FBI’s Minnesota Child Exploitation Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Kristian Weir is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
