International Falls Man Federally Indicted for Kidnapping Zimmerman Minor and Production of Child Pornography Involving a Second Minor

MINNEAPOLIS - United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen today announced the unsealing of a federal grand jury indictment charging Joseph Andrew Bragg with the January 21, 2026, alleged Kidnapping and Attempted Transportation of a minor victim. He is also charged with the alleged Production and Possession of Child Pornography involving a second minor victim.

According to state and federal court documents, on January 21, 2026, a minor child under the age of 10, Victim 1, returned home to the usual school bus drop-off at approximately 3:53 p.m. The drop-off location was a block from Victim 1's home. Video surveillance confirmed that Victim 1 started walking toward her home, then turned around and walked back the way she had come. Victim 1 did not arrive home and Victim 1's mother reported her missing that afternoon.

Victim 1's mother reported having an unusual online interaction approximately two weeks earlier with a Facebook profile username "Joseph Bragg." The individual alleged he worked in childcare and asked if she or anyone she knew was looking for babysitting services. Victim 1's mother reported feeling uncomfortable and ultimately blocking the individual. Further investigation identified the Facebook profile as belonging to Joseph Andrew Bragg.

Law enforcement developed a phone number for Bragg and found that he had rented a vehicle with Tennessee (TN) license plates associated. Location tracking data showed that Bragg's phone number and the rental vehicle were traveling together south on Interstate 35 moving toward Iowa.

Just after midnight on January 22, 2026, a sergeant with the Albert Lea Police Department stopped a vehicle matching the description of the rental vehicle after confirming that it bore the same TN license plate as the suspect vehicle. Bragg was identified as the driver. He told police that he was driving a rental and that he was on his way to Arkansas. Police saw a minor female in the backseat of the vehicle partially covered by a red suitcase. The minor was removed and confirmed to be Victim 1.

Further investigation revealed that the phone Bragg possessed the night of Victim 1's kidnapping contained several video and photo files depicting child sexual abuse material of multiple minor victims. Victim 2 was positively identified in several of those files.

Bragg made his initial appearance in District Court on May 28, where the Court ordered him detained.

"The allegations set forth in this indictment are every parent's worst nightmare," said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. "Joseph Bragg allegedly abducted a young child, took her from the love and safety of her home and family, and tried to take her out of the state for his own purposes. Separately, the child sexual abuse material allegedly produced and possessed by Bragg are despicable evidence of a terrifying sexual interest in children. The FBI is dedicated to stopping child predators, keeping children safe, and bringing offenders to justice. In partnership with the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office and the BCA, we did just that. I hope the fact that the alleged offender will answer for these allegations in federal court helps to restore a sense of safety to victims."

"As alleged in this indictment, Joseph Andrew Bragg is the very definition of a predator. When he allegedly abducted his young victim, we issued an AMBER Alert, and our agents worked urgently with local and federal investigators to find them, ultimately uncovering his scheme to access and target children," Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said. "Minnesota's children must be protected by all of us and we will use every tool at our disposal to bring them to safety, and to bring those who would harm them to justice."

"The Sherburne County Sheriff's Office will never forget the unbelievable amount of assistance provided by law enforcement, fire departments, and volunteers that day," said Sherburne County Sheriff's Office Commander Ben Zawacki. "Our Criminal Investigative Division deserves tremendous credit for the tireless work they did that night and the multiple days after until the investigation was concluded."

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the FBI, with assistance from the Zimmerman Fire Department, the Albert Lea Police Department, the Plymouth Police Department, and the Northstar Search and Rescue. The Freeborn County Sheriff's Office and numerous other law enforcement agencies contributed to this investigation through reports or evidence control.

Investigators believe there may be more victims relevant to this investigation. If you or your minor dependent(s) have any information regarding Joseph Andrew Bragg, please contact the FBI Tip Line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Albania Concepcion is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.