A 40-year-old man from North Dakota is facing serious criminal charges after prosecutors alleged he sexually abused children in Thailand and possessed illegal materials.
Charges and Court Proceedings
Sean David Snyder entered a plea of not guilty in a US court on 24 November 2025. He faces a series of charges including one count of possessing materials containing child pornography, three counts of travelling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, and three counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places, as reported by local outlet KMOT.
Snyder's defence attorney declined to comment on the allegations when approached by The Independent. The accused is currently being held at the Burleigh Morton Detention Center in Bismarck, North Dakota. A judge is scheduled to decide on his bond this Tuesday, with a trial expected to commence in January.
Allegations of Abuse in Phuket
Court documents, reviewed by The Forum newspaper, allege that Snyder travelled to Thailand and sexually abused two children in Phuket over a period spanning from 2018 to August 2025. The children reportedly informed the FBI that they knew Snyder and that the abuse began when they were younger than eight years old.
The investigation gained international traction in September, when Thai police requested assistance from the FBI. Following this, local authorities in Thailand issued a warrant for Snyder's arrest. In October, the FBI informed Snyder that his passport had been revoked.
Evidence and Further Claims
Investigators allegedly discovered child sex abuse materials on Snyder's phone after conducting a search. A search was also carried out at his business, Sunny Side Cleaning Services, based in Bismarck.
Prosecutors intend to present evidence suggesting Snyder has a history of abusing children and his wife. Court documents cite a witness from Phuket who described Snyder as a "violent polygamist".
In a contrasting account, a woman identifying herself as Snyder's wife spoke to The Forum last month, disputing the sex abuse allegations and claiming he did not travel to Thailand.
Ongoing Legal Process
The case continues to develop as the US legal system processes the serious international allegations. The Independent has requested comment from the U.S. Attorney's Office in North Dakota regarding the proceedings.
