NOTN- Craig Scott Valdez, a former chief of staff for an Alaska Legislator has been arrested in Juneau on federal charges accusing him of sex trafficking and exploiting children.
According to the Juneau Independent, Valdez served as chief of staff to Senator George Rauscher.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation says a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging 36-year-old Craig Scott Valdez with sex trafficking of children, production of child pornography, coercion and enticement of minors, and receipt of child pornography.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska, Valdez allegedly used the social media app Snapchat to identify and groom juvenile girls for sexual exploitation.
Court documents reference one child victim in an alleged incident in October 2025, but according to a press release, Valdez is believed to have additional victims in Anchorage and Juneau.
Authorities say Valdez worked in both Anchorage and Juneau.
He is scheduled to make his initial appearance February 23, If convicted, Valdez faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and could receive a life sentence.
Officials are asking anyone with information, or who may have encountered someone using the name Craig Scott Valdez or the usernames “NONAME20233132” or “DOCHANK,” to contact the FBI at (907) 276-4441.
