Minnesota State Wire

Scott Wayne Laney, 47, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for producing child pornography. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.

Court documents reveal that between the summer of 2023 and January 2024, Laney sexually abused a minor under the age of 13, created images of the abuse, and distributed them online. Laney is a previously convicted sex offender with a history dating back to August 30, 1999, when he was convicted in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota for Criminal Sexual Conduct in the First Degree involving an infant.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office highlighted during sentencing that child sex offenders have a high risk of reoffending. The Supreme Court case McKune v. Lile notes that convicted sex offenders are more likely than other offenders to be rearrested for similar crimes. The office emphasized the growing issue of cases involving child sexual abuse due to smartphone accessibility and argued for severe penalties.

U.S. District Judge Donavan W. Frank sentenced Laney to 420 months—equivalent to 35 years—of imprisonment followed by lifetime supervised release. Judge Frank remarked on the severity of this case compared to others he has encountered.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson stated, “Laney is a predator in the purest and most dangerous sense.” He added that the sentence serves as both justice and a warning against repeat offenses: “Minnesota’s children are not expendable...those who abuse them will be met with relentless, unforgiving federal justice.”

BCA Superintendent Drew Evans commented on achieving justice for Laney's crimes: “We will continue to doggedly pursue anyone who abuses children.” FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr., expressed commitment to combating child exploitation: “The FBI has zero tolerance for such actions.”

The investigation was conducted by the BCA with assistance from the FBI and Meeker County Sheriff’s Office, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth Shnider prosecuted the case.