Alaska Senate Staffer Charged in Federal Child Sex Trafficking Case

JUNEAU, Alaska (BuzzReport) — A staff member for an Alaska state senator has been charged in a sweeping federal case involving alleged sex trafficking of children and multiple child exploitation offenses, authorities announced.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Craig Scott Valdez, 36, leading to his arrest by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The charges include sex trafficking of children, among other serious federal offenses.

Investigators allege Valdez targeted more than 10 juvenile victims across Alaska. At the time of his arrest, Valdez was identified as a current state employee working in Anchorage and Juneau and was listed as a staff member for Alaska State Sen. George Rauscher on the Alaska Senate Minority website.

Court documents allege that Valdez used the social media platform Snapchat to identify, groom, and entice juvenile females for sexual exploitation. Prosecutors stated in a detention memo that a review of Valdez’s Snapchat and Cash App activity revealed at least 11 suspected juvenile victims beyond the one specifically named in the indictment.

The indictment focuses on alleged conduct involving a minor in October 2025. However, investigators say Valdez is believed to have victimized—or attempted to victimize—additional juveniles across the state.

The arrest has sent shockwaves through Alaska’s political community. State leaders described the allegations as deeply disturbing, while the Alaska Republican Party issued a forceful response.

“The conduct described in federal court filings demands our deepest outrage,” said party chairman Carmela Warfield in a statement. “There is absolutely no place in our state for anyone who would harm a child.” Warfield added that decisive action was taken to remove Valdez from all positions he previously held within the party and the Anchorage Young Republicans.

If convicted on the federal charges, Valdez faces a potential sentence of 15 years to life in federal prison.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Anchorage Field Office in partnership with the Anchorage Police Departmentas part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.

Authorities are urging anyone with information related to Valdez’s alleged actions to contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at 907-276-4441.