South Dakota Man Sentenced Over 24 Years for Sexually Exploiting a Minor Following HSI St. Paul Investigation

RAPID CITY, S.D. — U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota Alison J. Ramsdell announced July 11 that Charles Nichols, 51, of Rapid City, was sentenced to 24 years and five months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for sexual exploitation of a minor.

Nichols admitted he communicated with a child, who was then aged 16 and 17, over Instagram for several months. He then offered her alcohol, marijuana and vape pods in exchange for sexual activity between August and October 2022. Nichols used his cellphone to record some of these sexual acts with the girl. Nichols was arrested after he drove to the Monument Arena in October 2022, during the Black Hills Pow Wow, to exchange a vape pen for sexual acts with a different minor.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul and the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Nichols was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Report suspected child exploitation to the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP or through the CyberTipline on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's website.