Kaleb Lee Basey, Child Pornography Crimes, Alaska 2024

A former soldier has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for distributing and transporting child pornography.

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that Kaleb Lee Basey, 28, formerly assigned to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Beistline to 15 years in prison, followed by a life term of supervised release, for distribution and transportation of child pornography.

According to evidence presented at trial, in January 2014, Basey posted an advertisement in the “Casual Encounters” section of the Fairbanks Craigslist website that read: “any dads or moms want to share a daughter with me for the night?”

Alaska State Troopers received a report about the ad and began an investigation, concerned that an actual minor might be in danger. In less than 24 hours, Troopers identified Basey as the person who posted. He was also identified as being an active duty solider on Fort Wainwright.

Troopers contacted Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) agents and executed a search of the defendant’s barracks room. Law enforcement agents eventually contacted the FBI for assistance. FBI agents were able to identify additional sexually-explicit Craigslist postings by Basey in which he sought access to minor children, as well as email communications in which individuals had responded to these sexually-explicit posts.

In addition, the defendant’s computer contained multiple contacts with minors that the defendant made through social media platforms. In his conversations with underage girls, the defendant frequently propositioned the girls for sex, or to engage in sexual acts on camera for his benefit.

At sentencing, Judge Beistline stated that his “primary concern [was] protection of the public.” “You are a pedophile,” Judge Beistline said, “someone who has an interest in having sex with children.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Alaska State Troopers, and Army Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Reardon.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ak/pr/former-soldier-sentenced-child-pornography-crimes