Kotzebue Man Arrested for Sex Trafficking of a Minor

 Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced Wally Roy Carter, 61, of Kotzebue, Alaska, has been named in a federal complaint for sex trafficking of a minor. Carter was arrested on Thursday, Dec. 17, and was ordered detained.  

The complaint alleges that Carter became the subject of a federal investigation last month, 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 U.S. Attorney’s Office is focused on protecting the citizens of rural Alaska, especially young people.” said U.S. Attorney Schroder, “With the additional prosecutors provided by Attorney General Barr after his visit to Alaska in June 2019, we are charging more cases in the remote areas of the state, fulfilling his admonition that all citizens deserve public safety protection.”

“The FBI is dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of Alaska’s youth, and today’s charges send a clear message that crimes against children, in both urban and rural Alaska, will never be tolerated,” said Robert Britt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Anchorage Field Office.  “Our collective efforts to promote public safety in rural Alaska remain steadfast, and by using a multi-agency approach, the FBI will continue to investigate, disrupt, and hold accountable those who prey upon the children of our communities.”

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.

Under 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.