Andrew M. Luger, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota
A man from Crystal, Minnesota has admitted guilt to multiple charges related to the production of child pornography. Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick announced that Dapree Richard Christlieb-Peterson, aged 22, engaged in illegal activities with minor teenage girls both in Minnesota and other states.
Court documents reveal that between April 2022 and September 13, 2023, Christlieb-Peterson used internet applications, social media platforms, and text messaging to have sexually explicit conversations with minors. He aimed to entice and coerce these individuals into illegal sexual activities with him. His victims included at least five minors aged between 12 and 17 from Minnesota, Florida, and other locations. Christlieb-Peterson was aware of their ages as they were either disclosed by the victims or evident on their social media profiles.
Christlieb-Peterson recorded the explicit activities on his cell phone and distributed the resulting child pornography to others. On February 4, 2024, he pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court before Judge Eric C. Tostrud to five counts of production and attempted production of child pornography. A sentencing hearing will be arranged at a later date.
The investigation was carried out by Homeland Security Investigations along with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative started in May 2006 by the Department of Justice—to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse online.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David M. Classen and Robert M. Lewis are leading the prosecution.
