ROANOKE, Va. – An Alabama man, who coerced a 13-year-old Danville, Virginia, girl to send him sexually explicit images and video, was sentenced today to 12 years in federal prison.
Kenneth Melvin Doss, 34, of Huntsville, Alabama, pled guilty recently to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.
“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,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci. “I commend the FBI for their outstanding work on this case.”
“When a family member takes indecent liberties with a child, they commit one of the most unforgivable betrayals — shattering innocence, trust, and safety in ways that can never be undone. Family ties do not excuse criminal acts; in fact, such acts demand even greater accountability because the harm comes from within the circle meant to protect. Law enforcement’s duty is clear: to stand between the victim and the offender, no matter the relationship, and ensure that justice is served without hesitation or compromise,” Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division said today. According to court records, in July 2025, Doss used Facebook Messenger to convince his 13-year-old relative in Danville to send him sexually explicit images and video of herself. When the minor victim hesitated, Doss responded it could be their secret, and they could delete the chats. Doss also sent videos of himself masturbating to the minor victim, and he described the sex acts they could engage in if they met up in person.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Drew Inman prosecuted the case for the United States.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.