Afrikaner refugee from South Africa wanted in US court case

A South African man facing three child sexual abuse material charges in the United States is wanted by police after failing to appear in court, Joburg Etc reports.

According to Reuters, Glen Venter, 31, was arrested in Rochester, Minnesota, in April after investigators reportedly traced cryptocurrency transactions linked to the alleged purchase of child sexual abuse material on the dark web.

According to local Minnesota reports, an arrest warrant was issued after Venter failed to attend a scheduled hearing at Olmsted County District Court in late October. He was initially charged with one count of possession in April, with prosecutors adding two further charges in June.

The investigation reportedly began after Coinbase flagged transactions associated with Venter’s account. Police subsequently executed a search warrant at his Rochester residence on 28 April.

Cyber tips traced to South Africa

Court documents reportedly state that electronic devices seized during the investigation contained approximately 200 images and videos of child sexual abuse material.

Investigators also received three cyber tips from Facebook between 2022 and 2024, linked to an account based in South Africa. Further reports from Google and Snapchat were connected to accounts in the Rochester area.

Venter allegedly told investigators that he had been viewing the material since 2015 and had used cryptocurrency to purchase it.

He and his family reportedly relocated from South Africa to Minnesota in September 2025. The allegations have not been proven in court. Venter is presumed innocent unless found guilty.

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