Alabama Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Coercing Minor Online

An Alabama man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for coercing a 13-year-old girl from Danville, Virginia, to send him sexually explicit images and videos. Kenneth Melvin Doss, 34, from Huntsville, Alabama, pled guilty to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

The sentencing took place in Roanoke, Virginia, where Doss was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at protecting children from exploitation and abuse. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Drew Inman.

According to court records, the events occurred in July 2025. Doss used Facebook Messenger to communicate with his 13-year-old relative, convincing her to send him sexually explicit images and videos. When the minor hesitated, Doss assured her that it could remain their secret and that they could delete the chats. He also sent videos of himself masturbating to the minor and described sexual acts they could engage in if they met in person.

First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci emphasized the seriousness of the crime, stating, "The sentence in this case should send a clear and unmistakable warning: online predators who seek to exploit children in the Western District of Virginia will be targeted for priority prosecution by this office." Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, highlighted the betrayal involved in such cases, noting the duty of law enforcement to protect victims and ensure justice.

Project Safe Childhood, under which this case was prosecuted, was created by the Department of Justice in 2006. It is a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse by coordinating federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims.