USAO - Alaska News Update

Offices of the United States Attorneys   You are subscribed to USAO - Alaska news updates. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Fairbanks Man Indicted on Federal Gun Charges 01/21/2021 12:00 AM EST Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that Bradley Kruger, 20, of Fairbanks, has been indicted for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. According to state court documents, on July 27, 2020, Kruger was stopped by Alaska State Troopers for a traffic violation.  During the stop, Troopers observed loose ammunition on the front passenger seat of the vehicle. Kruger self -identified that he was on felony probation and his probation officer requested a search of Kruger and the vehicle for prohibited weapons and controlled substances. During the search, Troopers located drugs and drug paraphernalia, a loaded Smith and Wesson 22 caliber pistol, 2 loaded AR15 magazines, and a backpack containing a pry bar, bolt cutters, screwdriver and wire snips. Further investigation revealed the pistol had been reported as lost one week earlier. Kruger has a prior felony conviction and is prohibited from possessing firearms.          If convicted on the federal charges, Kruger faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Alaska State Troopers (AST) conducted the investigation leading to the charges in this case.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Doty. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice's violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice's signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department's past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please visit https://www.justice.gov/ag/about-project-guardian The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Kotzebue Man Indicted for Sex Trafficking of a Minor 01/21/2021 12:00 AM EST Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that Wally Roy Carter, 61, of Kotzebue, Alaska, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for sex trafficking of a minor. Carter was arrested on Thursday, Dec. 17, and has remained incarcerated since his arrest.    According to a criminal complaint, Carter became the subject of a federal investigation in November 2020, when the FBI received a tip alleging a minor had been sexually abused by Carter approximately 15 times over the course of three years, with the first instance occurring when the victim was just 10 years old. Carter allegedly gave the victim money after each instance of sexual abuse, and often gave her alcohol and marijuana before or after the sexual abuse.  The complaint further alleges that the sexual abuse happened in Carter's home, his vehicle and on one occasion, Carter took her by boat to a cabin, where the victim tried to escape from Carter at least five times.   If the public has any further information regarding Carter's activities, please contact Anchorage FBI at (907) 276-4441.   If convicted, Carter faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Anchorage Police Department (APD) Task Force Officers investigated this case collectively as part of the FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers (AST) and Kotzebue Police Department (KPD). This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Doty. The investigation is 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. This case is also part of the Rural Alaska Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAAVEN), the U.S. Attorney's Office is increasing engagement, coordination, and action on public safety in Alaska Native communities. The charges in the criminal complaint are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. You have received this e-mail because you have asked to be notified of changes to the Offices of the United States Attorneys website. GovDelivery is providing this service on behalf of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW · Washington, DC 20530 · 202-514-2000 and may not use your subscription information for any other purposes. Manage your Subscriptions | Department of Justice Privacy Policy  | GovDelivery Privacy Policy Follow the Offices of the United States Attorneys on Twitter: @USAttorneys