An Anchorage man, Benjamin Roundy, also known as "Aleks" or "Alekzander Marko," has been sentenced to over 11 years in prison for attempting to coerce and entice a minor. Following his release, he will remain under supervised release for the rest of his life.
In July 2023, Roundy engaged with an undercover agent posing as a 13-year-old girl on an internet-based app. Over nearly a month, he communicated with the agent via text message and initiated sexual conversations. He expressed desires to perform sexual acts and requested explicit photos from the individual he believed was a child.
On August 4, 2023, Roundy arranged to meet the undercover agent at a grocery store parking lot in Anchorage. After learning the fictional address of her friend's house, he left his home intending to meet her. Law enforcement arrested him at the scene and found personal lubricant and condoms in his vehicle.
Investigations uncovered thousands of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse on Roundy's electronic devices. He had also searched for child sexual abuse materials online.
Roundy pleaded guilty on April 25, 2024, to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.
"Mr. Roundy’s conduct was heinous," stated First Assistant U.S Attorney Kathryn R. Vogel for the District of Alaska. She emphasized their commitment to protecting children from exploitation.
Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office noted that "the defendant posed a significant threat to children in Alaska and abroad."
The case was investigated by the FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force alongside the Anchorage Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander and Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation.