Rapid City Man Found Guilty of Fifteen Internet Crimes Against Children

Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that Kyle Garret Soto, 34, of Rapid City, South Dakota, was convicted of five counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, one count of Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, six counts of Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, two counts of Receipt of Child Pornography, and one count of Possession of Child Pornography following a week-long federal jury trial held in U.S. District Court in Rapid City. The guilty verdicts were returned on April 16, 2021.

Between February 2014 and April 2018, Soto engaged in prolific sexual activity with numerous minors over the internet, including demanding, receiving, and sending pornographic images and videos. Soto threatened to distribute the minors' images and videos online if they failed to comply with his ultimatums to provide him with additional pornographic items. Subsequent to his arrest in April 2018, forensic examination of Soto's devices revealed hundreds of images of child pornography. Soto's victims ranged in age from approximately 7 years old to 15 years old.

The investigation was conducted by the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, Pennington County Sheriff's Office, Rapid City Police Department, Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the New Mexico State Police.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Collins and Heather Sazama prosecuted the case.