ASHEVILLE, N.C. – In a disturbing case of child exploitation, a federal prosecutor in Asheville has been recognized for her exemplary work in combating child abuse and exploitation.
Alexis I. Solheim, Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Western District of North Carolina, was awarded the ‘Assistant U.S. Attorney of the Year’ award by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for her outstanding work in child exploitation cases.
The award ceremony was held on Friday, October 7, 2022. U.S. Attorney Dena J. King praised Solheim’s work, stating, ‘The protection of the most vulnerable among us is a priority for my Office and the Justice Department.’ King added, ‘AUSA Solheim is tasked with bringing to justice individuals who harm innocent children, which are often some of the most difficult and challenging cases handled by federal prosecutors.’
Solheim is a federal prosecutor in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville and serves as the Western District’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator. Launched by the federal government in 2006, Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual abuse and exploitation.
The HSI award recognizes Solheim for her outstanding work in numerous federal criminal prosecutions involving the production, receipt, and distribution of child pornography, ‘traveler’ or enticement crimes, and online child exploitation cases, among others.
In addition to prosecuting federal matters, as the District’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator, Solheim conducts trainings of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies on how to investigate and prosecute computer-facilitated crimes against children. Solheim also participates in community education programs, in order to raise awareness about the threat of online sexual predators and to provide the tools and information to children and parents on how to protect children and report possible violations.
Solheim began her career in public service in 2014, when she joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA), working on criminal and civil matters in federal court. Before becoming an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina in 2021, Solheim worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Buncombe County, prosecuting state criminal offenses.
AUSA Solheim received her undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina and her law degree from the Campbell University School of Law.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Justice Department have made combating child exploitation a top priority. The Office’s commitment to protecting children and holding offenders accountable for their actions is evident in Solheim’s recognition as the ‘Assistant U.S. Attorney of the Year’ for her work in child exploitation cases.
Related Federal Cases
- Isaac Nielsen, Child Exploitation, North Carolina 2025 · South Carolina
- Adam Geoffrey Frankel, Child Exploitation, North Carolina 2018 · Connecticut
- Anthony Dale Helton, Child Sex Abuse, North Carolina 2023 · South Carolina
- Dai Quan Matthew Felix, Child Sex Abuse, North Carolina 2024 · South Carolina
- Tony Chache See, Child Sex Abuse Material, North Carolina 2024 · South Carolina
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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