Rapid City man sentenced to 40 years in prison for sex trafficking of minors

RAPID CITY, SD (KELO) – A Rapid City man has been convicted of sex trafficking of underage girls.

Johnny Ray Heath, 52, was convicted of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and enticement of a minor via the Internet.

Forensic analysis of Heath's cell phone and other devices revealed that Heath coerced his victims into having sex with him. Heath offered his victims alcohol, vapes, marijuana and money. He also gifted girls with items they were addicted to and gave them valuable items to lure his victims.

According to the South Dakota District Attorney's Office, while Heath's victims were unconscious or highly intoxicated, he filmed himself sexually abusing them.

In January 2023, he went to a Rapid City parking lot to have sex with a 14-year-old girl. The “girl” was actually an undercover special agent with Homeland Security Investigations. Heath was later apprehended.

Heath was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison on each count, supervised release for life, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
and restitution of $3,000 to each of the two victims.

“This case demonstrates the impact of sexual undercover operations carried out by the law.
enforcement in South Dakota,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota Alison J.
Ramsdell. “The publicity generated by Johnny Heath's arrest led to a local victim coming
after learning of his arrest through the media.

“A second victim revealed Heath's abuse shortly afterward,” Ramsdell said. “Perpetrators like Heath pose a serious threat to young children in our community, and he deserved every day of his 40-year sentence. »