A Bellevue, Nebraska man has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for crimes related to the sexual exploitation of a minor from South Dakota. U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler handed down the sentence to Sean Carlos Payne, 34, on October 27, 2025. Payne will also serve 10 years of supervised release and must pay $300 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Payne pleaded guilty on April 22, 2025, after being indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024. He was originally charged following an investigation that began when the Meade County Sheriff’s Office received an urgent report about a missing 13-year-old girl in October 2024.
Investigators found that Payne had used online platforms such as Teen Chat, Discord, and Snapchat to groom the victim over several weeks prior to her disappearance. During this period, he persuaded her to send sexually explicit images and later sexually assaulted her multiple times in South Dakota. He then transported her across state lines into Wyoming.
While in Wyoming, Payne attempted to evade law enforcement during a traffic stop intended to locate the missing child. A high-speed pursuit involving several local and state agencies ensued before officers apprehended him with the victim still in his vehicle. Authorities said Payne told the victim he planned to take her to California.
At the time of these offenses, Payne was already a convicted sex offender due to a previous conviction for attempted enticement of a minor in Iowa in June 2024. He was also violating both felony probation and requirements under the national sex offender registry.
“Thanks to swift, coordinated action by a team of dedicated law enforcement personnel, this is one horror story that ends with a multi-decade sentence for this egregious offender,” said U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons.
“Payne’s heinous crimes shattered a child’s innocence and left them with unimaginable pain and trauma,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Protecting our children is our greatest duty and privilege as law enforcement. Payne’s sentence highlights our enduring commitment to that mission. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will stop at nothing to secure justice for victims and let predators know they will face the full weight of the law.”
“The protection of our youth is, and always will be, a top priority for the Meade County Sheriff’s Office. I am proud of our team’s efforts and the partnerships that made it possible to bring this dangerous individual to justice and to reunite the juvenile with their family. Our children will always come first. I extend my sincere gratitude to everyone whose dedication led to the successful resolution of this case,” said Meade County Sheriff Pat West.
The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Meade County Sheriff’s Office, Wyoming Highway Patrol, Rawlins Police Department (Wyoming), and Carbon County Sheriff’s Office (Wyoming). Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Payne was immediately taken into custody by U.S. Marshals Service following sentencing.
