Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
A Beresford, South Dakota man has been sentenced to over 33 years in federal prison for the receipt and distribution of child pornography. The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell and delivered by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier on March 10, 2025.
Theodore John Jungbauer, aged 61, received a sentence of 33 years and four months in federal prison. Following his release, he will be subject to supervised release for life and is required to register as a sex offender. Additionally, Jungbauer must pay $33,000 in restitution to several victims and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Jungbauer's conviction followed an indictment by a federal grand jury in October 2023, with him pleading guilty on November 12, 2024. His illegal activities involved receiving and distributing child pornography via the dark web between December 13, 2021, and August 24, 2023.
Law enforcement became aware of Jungbauer's actions when Australian authorities detected his attempts to share child pornography online. This prompted them to contact Homeland Security Investigations after discovering his collection contained 3,695 files of child sexual abuse materials.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project coordinates resources from various levels of law enforcement to apprehend offenders and rescue victims.
The investigation was conducted by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation alongside Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb led the prosecution against Jungbauer.
Following his sentencing, Jungbauer was remanded into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
