Joseph H. Thompson, U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota | Department of Justice
Joseph H. Thompson, U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota | Department of Justice
A federal jury in Minneapolis has found Randy Joe Fuller, 54, guilty of failing to register as a sex offender. The verdict was delivered after a trial presided over by District Judge Susan Richard Nelson, according to an announcement from Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
“Sex offender registration laws exist for one reason—to protect our communities and our children from known threats,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “When offenders ignore these requirements, they undermine a system designed to keep our families safe. Our duty is to protect children from those who prey on them, and we will use every power under federal law to do exactly that.”
Fuller’s obligation to register stems from his 1990 conviction in Fillmore County, Minnesota, for first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving the assault of a child. He served 54 months in prison for that offense.
In 2006, the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) was established as part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act to strengthen national sex offender registration systems and close previous legal gaps.
After his release from prison, Fuller was required under SORNA to maintain up-to-date registration until 2039. However, he failed to comply with this requirement multiple times and has three prior state convictions—in 2000, 2010, and 2013—for not keeping his registration current.
Authorities reported that Fuller moved from Iowa back to Houston, Minnesota in December 2024 but did not inform state or federal officials as mandated by SORNA. In January 2025, local police were called to his residence due to a verbal altercation and discovered he had returned without proper notification; they then contacted federal authorities.
Following his arrest on failure-to-register charges, Fuller was held at Sherburne County jail. On June 30, 2025, during a recorded phone call while in custody discussing the case against him, Fuller stated: “I am guilty of failure to register.”
The investigation involved the United States Marshals Service with support from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), Houston Police Department in Minnesota, and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan B. Gilead and Matthew D. Evans prosecuted the case.
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