North Dakota
Graphic emails from Ray Holmberg outline sex crimes, years of preying on children
BISMARCK — New court documents allege that former North Dakota State Sen. Ray Holmberg targeted the “most vulnerable” while committing his sex crimes against children.
According to federal court papers filed late Wednesday, March 19, officials detail that, for years, Holmberg targeted children in foreign countries, preyed on local students where he worked as a high school guidance counselor and abused his political power to exploit adolescent boys and men.
“You’d be amazed what you could do with a 12-year-old boy,” Holmberg allegedly told a former student of his.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
Now 81, Holmberg spent over 46 years in the North Dakota Senate as a Republican who represented Grand Forks.
Holmberg resigned
as a lawmaker in 2022 after
The Forum reported his connection
to
another man
who faced and was eventually sentenced on federal charges that said he traded child sex abuse materials online.
Holmberg has
pleaded guilty
to a charge that said he traveled multiple times to Prague between June 24, 2011, and Nov. 1, 2016, “with the motivating purpose of engaging in commercial sex with adolescent age individuals,” according to a plea agreement. The charge carries a maximum punishment of 30 years in prison.
Holmberg is scheduled to appear at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 26, at the federal courthouse in Fargo for a sentencing hearing, according to a notice filed Friday, Feb. 7. Barring any changes in scheduling, North Dakota U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland will hand down Holmberg’s punishment that day.
“Holmberg has a long history of leveraging his power and influence as a North Dakota Legislator over young men to obtain sexual favors,” court documents filed Wednesday said.
Holmberg didn’t commit one criminal act, prosecutors allege, but persistently and pervasively sought out and targeted young boys for sex.
Beyond paying for sex with children abroad, Holmberg targeted boys and young men throughout the state and surrounding region, prosecutors allege, by grooming them or pressuring them into sex acts.
Holmberg groomed children at Grand Forks Central High School for years, court records state, and “leveraged his influence and power to obtain sexual favors” from students at the University of North Dakota.
Investigators found strings of emails from Holmberg under the alias “Sean Evan” in which he described going abroad to “look for some young kid” as “fun,” court papers said.
These correspondence contain sexual comments about children so graphic that The Forum has elected not to print them.
“If you think I travel thousands of miles to have sex with a 16-year-old, you’d be right,” Holmberg said, according to the report.
Once, he emailed a friend that he’d only come visit him abroad on the following conditions: “You have to guarantee that I will have a boy to have sex with when I am there,” court documents allege.
“The boys and young men with whom Holmberg sought to engage in commercial sex were some of the most vulnerable in the world,” the report said. “Especially in Prague, they were homeless boys and men.”
Holmberg’s crimes will have lifelong impacts on all his victims, according to the report.
Holmberg also targeted people closer to home. According to court documents, Holmberg routinely paid people in the Midwest to have sex with him.
He also tricked a 16-year-old Canadian boy to send him child sex abuse materials of himself. Holmberg pressured the boy for months to send him photos of his genitals, even asking him explicit questions about sexual acts. The child died by suicide years after the abuse, the report said.
The former senator also sent and received child sexual abuse materials over the years, court papers allege.
In Wednesday’s court papers, the United States attorney asked the judge to sentence Holmberg to 37 months, or just over three years, and lifetime supervision when his sentence is handed down next week.
Troy Becker / The Forum
Reporter working the night shift 👻. I cover Fargo city government, Cass County government and underserved populations in the area.
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — Isaiah Griffin had 18 points in Western Illinois’ 69-66 overtime win against North Dakota on…
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — Isaiah Griffin had 18 points in Western Illinois’ 69-66 overtime win against North Dakota on Saturday.
Griffin had three steals for the Leathernecks (4-7). Karyiek Dixon scored 17 points while shooting 6 of 10 from the field and 5 for 6 from the line and added 18 rebounds. Lucas Lorenzen shot 3 for 13 (1 for 9 from 3-point range) and 7 of 8 from the free-throw line to finish with 14 points.
Eli King led the way for the Fightin’ Hawks (4-9) with 13 points, two steals and four blocks. Greyson Uelmen added 13 points for North Dakota. Garrett Anderson had 11 points and six rebounds.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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© 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
North Dakota
Community rescues grieving North Dakota widow — by harvesting their late pal’s 1,400 acres of crops
In North Dakota, farmers aren’t neighbors — they’re family.
When a sudden car crash tragically took the life of a beloved community member, the goodhearted folks of Antler came together to carry out one final act of kindness: they harvested his crops.
Randy Fyllesvold was killed in September, and his grieving widow, Kharra, and their two sons were left reeling, in no condition to deal with the 1,400 acres of corn and soybeans still in the fields surrounding their home.
That’s when the close-knit community stepped in.
Two of Randy’s pals — Wyatt Thompson and Andy Gates — decided to organize a large-scale harvest of their late pal’s crops.
First, they put out a call for help.
And the people answered. In a flash, more than 75 volunteers from surrounding communities were rolling onto the farm on 12 combines, in 40 trucks, all loaded with other equipment — along with willing hands.
They worked together like a well-oiled machine, and the massive effort was locked up in just a couple days.
Kharra said being among so many people harvesting her husband’s final crop was “nothing short of breathtaking” and she feels blessed to be the recipient of so much love and support in such a harrowing time.
But they wouldn’t have it any other way.
“To know Randy was to love Randy,” said buddy Wyatt Thompson told local station KFYR. “..The reach that he had was kind of endless.”
Kharra said she’ll never forget what they did for her.
“As I stood in the shop and looked around before the final Randy Fyllesvold corn harvest started, I was flooded with memories we created with all of you,” she wrote in a heartfelt Facebook post.
“The day was full of emotion, but I found so much peace in watching it unfold … but from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I will always remember this and Randy would be so proud.
“God Bless all of you and the boys and I love each and every one of you. 12 combines, 7 grain carts, over 40 trucks all for you Randy.
“I know you are smiling down.”
Donald R. Snyder Sr. 82 of Grand Forks, North Dakota died Tuesday, December 9, 2026, at Villa St. Vincent in Crookston, Minnesota.
Don was born on June 3, 1943, the son of Harrison and Gladys (Whittier) Snyder in Van Hook, North Dakota. He attended school in Van Hook and New Town, North Dakota. Don served in the United States Navy from 1960 – 1964 and was stationed in Hawaii during his time of service as a Military Police officer. He attended ND Police Academy and where he worked in Wattford City, ND and later was the Chief of Police in Parshall, ND. Don attended Minot State University and received a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1972.
Don was united in marriage to Greta Huseby on November 22, 1991, in Lake Tahoe, Neveda. He worked as a social worker in child welfare in North Dakota for thirty-five plus years in various roles in the state in Rugby, Minot and Bismarck as a Regional Supervisor to State Director in foster care. Don spent the many years taking care of family’s needs in North Dakota.
After retiring from Human Service in North Dakota, he worked for Multiband Inc. and Orangehook Inc. Don retired from OrangeHook Inc. as the Senior Vice President, responsible for HR Department.
Don enjoyed fishing (deep sea, rivers and lakes), hunting, woodworking (cabinetry and interior), coaching Tee Ball and soccer, and volunteering for the local honor guards. He was proud of his service in the military and always showed his gratitude for fellow veterans.
Don’s faith and family were his priority. He read the Bible six times and shared his faith with his family and friends. Don and Greta were active members of University Lutheran Church.
Don is survived by his wife, Greta Snyder; three sons, Donald Richard Snyder Jr., Scott (Nancy) Snyder and Tracy (Staci) Snyder; grandchildren, Megan (Rory) Selk, Katelyn Snyder, Gavin Snyder, Whitney (Chris) Crofts, Kaylee (Jon) Gappmaier and Jordan (Jen) Snyder, thirteen great-grandchildren, Kinley, Iyla, Jude, Gabby, Rowan, Sophia, Hunter, Kimber, Isaiah, Benjamin, Porshea, Addie and Mollie; numerous nieces and nephews.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, two daughters, Tunya and Mishell Snyder, granddaughter, Jessica Snyder and two infant sisters.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at Amundson Funeral Home. Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at Amundson Funeral Home.
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