Rural Alaska Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing a Minor

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A man from a rural Alaskan village was sentenced July 18, 2023, to over 12 years in prison for sexually abusing a minor.

According to court documents, Melvin Andrew, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor.

Court documents say Andrew sexually abused a 14-year-old girl over the course of 10 months, with abuse taking place at least once a week. The defendant engaged in physical sexual abuse and requested sexually explicit images from the minor via text message.

“Individuals who target Alaska’s most vulnerable will be held accountable for their destructive actions,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska. “Mr. Andrew’s actions have caused immense damage, and our office will continue to dedicate time and resources to identifying and prosecuting these cases on behalf of victims of abuse.”

“The defendant’s predatory behavior involved the repeated sexual abuse of a minor – a heinous crime that must be met with consequences,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our partners remain steadfast in our commitment to protect Alaska’s youth from predators, no matter where they lurk.”

The FBI’s Anchorage Field Office and the Alaska State Troopers investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Brickey prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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