A Rapid City man has been sentenced to more than ten years in federal prison after being convicted of attempted enticement of a minor using the internet. U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler handed down the sentence to Matthew Zook, 46, on September 29, 2025.
Zook received a sentence of ten years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $95 in restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The court ordered forfeiture as part of the sentencing.
A federal grand jury indicted Zook in June 2024, and he pleaded guilty on July 15, 2025.
According to case details, Zook used Snapchat in April 2024 to communicate with a 14-year-old girl. He discussed sexual topics with her and explained his intentions for meeting her by referencing personal issues involving his mother and girlfriend. On April 20, 2024, shortly after midnight, Zook drove to the girl’s home and parked in her driveway. The minor had informed a parent about the communication, leading law enforcement officers to arrest Zook at the scene.
Zook has a prior conviction from 2012 for Fourth Degree Rape of a minor when he was 33 years old; he received a suspended prison sentence for that offense.
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell stated: “This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.” More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The investigation involved cooperation between the Rapid City Police Department, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Zook was immediately remanded into custody following sentencing.
