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 and possession of child sexual abuse materials. According to court documents, the indictment alleges that between March and November 2019, John induced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct outside the United States for the purpose of producing visual depictions. It is further alleged that he transported these images back into the United States.
The indictment also claims that from November 1, 2019, through May 16, 2024, John knowingly possessed child sexual abuse materials in Alaska involving a prepubescent minor and another minor under the age of twelve. He faces one count of sexual exploitation of children outside the U.S. and one count of possession of child pornography. If convicted on both counts, he could face up to 50 years in prison. Sentencing would be determined by a federal district judge following consideration of sentencing guidelines and statutory factors.
John’s initial court appearance will take place at a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of Alaska.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska and Acting Special Agent in Charge Brandon Waddle from the FBI Anchorage Field Office announced the charges as part of Operation Relentless Justice. This coordinated enforcement effort led to over 205 child victims being located and more than 293 arrests nationwide. The operation involved all 56 FBI field offices as well as federal prosecutors across the country.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Anchorage Field Office’s Juneau Resident Agency with support from the Ketchikan Police Department as part of its Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Individuals with information about John’s alleged actions are encouraged 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 started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation by marshaling federal, state, and local resources to locate offenders and rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
