Dillon Alvan Reyna, 33, was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison and 15 years of supervised release for coercion and enticement of a minor. The sentencing took place in U.S. District Court before Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan.
“No parent should have to wonder if their child is safe at a park,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Yet here, a repeat sex offender in his 30s targeted and picked up a vulnerable child from a Duluth park—a child who had already endured abuse. That is beyond appalling. We are seeing a disturbing rash of men in Minnesota attempting to buy or coerce sex from children. Let me be clear: it is predatory, it is criminal, and it will be met with the full force of federal prosecution. We will not allow offenders to turn our parks and neighborhoods into hunting grounds for children.”
According to court documents, Reyna met the underage victim at a Duluth park in October 2022. He was aware that the victim was under 16 and receiving care due to prior sexual abuse. Over several months, Reyna manipulated the victim through gifts and rides that were conditioned on sexual acts, used physical force during sex, and filmed these acts without the victim’s knowledge. He also communicated with the minor using social media.
Law enforcement intervened after tracking the minor to Reyna’s apartment building. When questioned by authorities, Reyna denied knowing the victim and instructed her to lie as well. The victim later disclosed details of the abuse to police. From jail, Reyna asked an associate to delete social media accounts connected to his crimes; these efforts did not succeed.
Reyna had previously admitted guilt for another sex offense in St. Louis County, Minnesota in 2021—Third Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct involving force or coercion—and received a stay of adjudication.
In delivering his sentence, Judge Bryan cited aggravating circumstances related to this case.
Hands-on sexual abuse inflicts upon its victim immense and long-lasting harm. That the abuse is inflicted on a child and then recorded and memorialized in child pornography adds devastating dimensions to the harm inflicted on minor victims. As the Supreme Court observed about the victim of a child sexual assault, “the nature of her injuries caused more prolonged physical and mental suffering than, say, a sudden killing by an unseen assassin. The attack was not just on her but on her childhood…” Kennedy v. Louisiana, 554 U.S. 407, 435 (2008); see also United States v. Pugh, 515 F.3d 1179, 1197-98 & n.12 (11th Cir. 2008) (citing extensive congressional findings about the harm caused by child pornography and recognizing that “[i]n light of these detailed legislative findings and numerous legislative enactments, we cannot help but underscore the seriousness of this crime”).
“Reyna’s actions were a reprehensible attack on the safety and innocence of a vulnerable child,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr., FBI Minneapolis.“Far from rehabilitation, as a repeat sex offender, Reyna chose to again violate and exploit a minor victim in unthinkably heinous ways through coercion, manipulation, and force.This victim , already the brave survivor of abuse , suffered at his hands and again though the filming of the assault . This victim deserves the full weight of justice to be leveraged against Reyna . The FBI hopes this sentence shows our unflinching commitment to pursuing justice for all victims of similar abuse and sends the message to all offenders—you will be pursued , prosecuted ,and punished .”
The U.S.Attorney’s Office commended the courage shown by the minor involved.Without her disclosure , authorities stated that Reyna could have continued posing a threat .
The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies including FBI Minneapolis , Duluth Police Department ,and Hermantown Police Department .Assistant U.S.Attorneys David B.Green & Evan B.Gilead prosecuted .
