A federal grand jury in Alaska has indicted Dwight Chris John, a 74-year-old former church elder from Ketchikan, on charges related to child exploitation. According to court documents, between March and November 2019, John allegedly induced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct outside the United States for the purpose of producing visual depictions of that conduct. The indictment claims he intended to transport these materials back into the U.S.
The indictment also states that from November 1, 2019, through May 16, 2024, John knowingly possessed child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in Alaska. The materials allegedly involved a prepubescent minor and another minor under the age of twelve.
John faces one count of sexual exploitation of children outside the U.S. and one count of possession of child pornography. He is scheduled for an initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at a later date. If convicted on both counts, he could face up to 50 years in prison. Sentencing would be determined by a federal district judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska and Acting Special Agent in Charge Brandon Waddle of the FBI Anchorage Field Office announced the indictment as part of Operation Relentless Justice. This coordinated effort resulted in more than 205 child victims being located and over 293 offenders arrested nationwide during a two-week period involving all FBI field offices and several Department of Justice sections.
The investigation is being led by the FBI Anchorage Field Office’s Juneau Resident Agency with assistance from the Ketchikan Police Department as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Authorities encourage anyone with information about John’s alleged actions to contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at (907) 276-4441 or submit tips anonymously at tips.fbi.gov.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Reed and Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg from the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are prosecuting this case.
"An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation through collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
