A Rapid City man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison in a child exploitation case involving the use of artificial intelligence.
Federal Judge Camela Theeler handed down the sentence to Alex Badura in federal court in Rapid City. Badura previously pleaded guilty to two counts of receipt of child sexual abuse material in April.
According to court documents, investigators found hundreds of AI-generated and digitally altered images and videos involving two 12-year-old girls known to the defendant. Prosecutors also said some of the material had been shared on social media platforms.
Federal authorities said additional files were discovered on Badura’s electronic devices during the investigation.
The case was prosecuted in U.S. District Court, and Badura will serve his sentence in federal prison.
