A Huntsville man is facing the legal fallout of a digital betrayal after pleading guilty in a Virginia federal court for the exploitation of a 13-year-old girl. Kenneth Melvin Doss, 31, admitted to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor following an investigation that spanned from Alabama to Virginia.
The case, which surfaced in July 2025, centers on a series of interactions Doss initiated via Facebook Messenger.
According to court documents, Doss targeted the young victim, who is a relative of his, and pressured her into sending sexually explicit photos and videos of herself.
When the girl hesitated and pointed out their family connection, Doss dismissed her concerns, telling her the communication could remain their secret and suggesting they delete their chat history to hide the evidence.
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Beyond the demands for imagery, Doss sent the minor videos of himself performing sexual acts and detailed specific sexual encounters he hoped to have if the two were to meet in person.
The local investigation was handled by the FBI’s Richmond Division, highlighting the cross-border nature of modern digital crimes.
The announcement of the guilty plea was made jointly by First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Ian Kaufmann, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division. Assistant United States Attorney Drew Inman is handling the prosecution.
This conviction is a result of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to streamline the process of finding and prosecuting those who exploit children online.
By pooling resources from federal, state, and local law enforcement, the program focuses on both the apprehension of offenders and the rescue of victims.
Doss now awaits sentencing for his actions, marking another closed chapter in the ongoing effort to police social media platforms for predatory behavior.
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