Skip to main content
Press Release

Wasilla Man Indicted For Child Exploitation Crime

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Alaska

Anchorage, Alaska – United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Justin Raymond Nekeferoff, 27, of Wasilla, Alaska, charging him with attempted sexual exploitation of a child – coercion and enticement of a minor.

According to court documents, between June 8, 2015, and July 22, 2015, Nekeferoff, using a facility and means of interstate and foreign commerce, did knowingly attempt to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce an individual who he believed had not attained the age of 18 years, to engage in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, to wit: Sexual Abuse of a Minor in the First Degree, in violation of Alaska Statute 11.41.434(a)(1).

The case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey J. Renschen is prosecuting the case.

If convicted of attempted sexual exploitation of a child – coercion and enticement of a minor, Nekeferoff faces a statutory penalty of not less than 10 years and up to life imprisonment.  The  count also carries a fine of up to $250,000, as well as the possibility of a life time period of supervised release following any sentence of imprisonment.  Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.  The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This prosecution is part of the Department of Justice’s ongoing Project Safe Childhood initiative which was launched to increase federal prosecutions of sexual predators of children, and to reduce the number of Internet crimes against children including child pornography trafficking. As a part of PSC, the United States Attorney’s Office has teamed with state and local agencies and organizations to increase law enforcement presence on the Internet, and to educate the public about safe Internet use, thereby reducing the risk that children might fall prey to online sexual predators. For additional information on the PSC initiative, please go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov or call the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska.

Updated August 21, 2015

Topic
Project Safe Childhood
Component