Federal charges have been brought against a man already accused in state court of abducting a 7-year-old girl who had just gotten off her school bus in Zimmerman, Minn., and sexually assaulting her at a Plymouth hotel in January.

A federal grand jury indicted Joseph Andrew Bragg, 29, of International Falls, Minn., on charges of kidnapping of a minor, possession of child pornography and attempted transportation of a minor in connection with the girl’s Jan. 21 disappearance.

The indictment, which was unsealed Thursday, also charges Bragg with two counts of production of child pornography for allegedly creating a video and an image of a second minor engaging in a sexual act on June 18, 2020.

After his Jan. 23 arrest, authorities discovered several video and photo files depicting child sexual abuse material of multiple minor victims, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Minnesota. The second victim was positively identified in several of the files.

The indictment alleges Bragg kidnapped the 7-year-old girl and attempted to bring her to Arkansas with the intent to engage in sexual activity. “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 in a news release. “As alleged in this indictment, Joseph Andrew Bragg is the very definition of a predator.”

Bragg made an initial appearance on the charges Thursday in Minneapolis before Magistrate Judge Elsa Bullard. He waived a detention hearing, and will remain jailed ahead of future court proceedings.

The girl’s disappearance led to a large search of the area in near-zero-degree weather, and an Amber Alert after investigators realized she was likely abducted by a stranger.

Bragg and the girl were located the next day in Albert Lea, Minn., more than 130 miles south of where she was abducted. She was taken to a hospital to be evaluated.

Bragg was charged Jan. 23 in Sherburne County District Court with kidnapping and first-degree criminal sexual assault of a child. A review hearing on those charges is scheduled for next month.

According to state and federal court documents, deputies were notified the girl was missing about 6:30 p.m. Jan. 21. Family members said she had gone to school and was usually dropped off by the bus at 3:40 p.m. but had not returned home.

Camera footage from a neighbor showed the girl walking toward her home at 3:53 p.m. then turning and walking back toward her bus stop out of view. No vehicles or people were seen in the footage. Deputies canvassed the neighborhood in search of the girl.

The girl’s mother told law enforcement that she had an unusual online interaction last month involving someone with a Facebook profile username of “Joseph Bragg.” She said he added her as a friend on Facebook early last month and that she added him back as she mistakenly thought she recognized him as a relative of an associate.

Bragg asked the mother questions about herself, including whether she had children, and “indicated he wanted children of his own, was not discouraged to learn a woman already had children, and indicated a desire to engage in activities with children,” the state criminal complaint states. He said he works in child care and asked the mother if she knew anyone in the Zimmerman/Princeton area looking for such services.

The mother ultimately blocked Bragg on Facebook.

Law enforcement learned through its investigation that Bragg had access to a rented white 2025 Dodge Ram pickup truck. Location data of his cellphone showed he was traveling south toward the Iowa border, prompting the Amber Alert just before midnight.

At about 12:30 a.m. Jan. 22, a sergeant with the Albert Lea Police Department saw a white pickup truck matching the suspect’s vehicle at a gas pump in Albert Lea, about 12 miles from the border. The officer followed the truck, confirmed its license plate number and made a traffic stop. Bragg was driving and the girl was in the backseat. Bragg, who said he was on his way out of state, was arrested. He declined to give a statement to law enforcement.

Investigators learned Bragg had a Lyft driver take him and the girl from a home residence in the Hamel/Corcoran area to a hotel in Plymouth. The Lyft driver reported driving a man and young female to the Ramada Inn. Hotel staff confirmed the defendant stayed in a room at the hotel.

The girl was forensically interviewed and examined and reported being in a room with Bragg with her clothes off and described how she was sexually assaulted, the complaint says.

Investigators believe there may be more victims relevant to the investigation, and are asking anyone with information regarding Bragg to call the FBI Tip Line at 800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or go to tips.fbi.gov.