HSI Charleston Investigation Leads to Conviction for California Sex Offender for Child Exploitation Crimes in West Virginia

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — An investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Charleston resulted in the conviction of an already-convicted sex offender for the sexual exploitation of a West Virginia minor. A federal jury convicted Alex Kai Tick Chin, 39, of San Francisco, California, of production of child pornography, enticement of a minor, and committing a sex crime against a minor while a registered sex offender Aug. 22, 2024.

“Alex Kai Tick Chin is a sexual deviant who has displayed a detestable inclination to victimize children,” said HSI Washington, D.C. Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon. “Chin’s actions have proven him a serious threat to any child with whom he comes into contact. I commend our HSI Charleston field office and the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia for their diligent work in securing this conviction. HSI Washington, D.C. will continue to work tirelessly to rid our communities of such deviant criminals.”

According to the HSI Charleston investigation, from about Dec. 12, 2020, through about Feb. 14, 2021, Chin employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a minor female residing in West Virginia to record and send him sexually explicit images of herself using a multimedia instant messaging application. To do so, Chin would compliment the girl and tell her they were in a romantic relationship. However, he would also threaten to harm himself if she did not send him sexually explicit images.

“Mr. Chin preyed upon a minor female, attempted to do the same with a second female child, and then lied repeatedly to the jury to conceal and avoid responsibility for his criminal conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Will Thompson. “I commend HSI for the investigative work in this case, and … our trial team for securing guilty verdicts on all three counts in the indictment.”

The investigation further illustrated that Chin exchanged messages with a second minor female — who also resided in West Virginia — during the same time period, engaging in sexual conversations and soliciting nude images from her as well. Chin also threatened to harm himself in conversations with the second girl unless she complied with his demands. Chin sent sexually explicit photos and videos of himself to the second child.

Chin continued to communicate with both children until early March 2022, when he drove from California to West Virginia in a white panel van equipped with a mattress to West Virginia. Once in West Virginia, he attempted unsuccessfully to meet both girls in person.

Chin is a registered sex offender following a December 2017 felony conviction for possession of child pornography in the Superior Court of California.

Chin faces a mandatory minimum of 35 years and up to life in prison at his sentencing, which is scheduled for Dec. 9.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

Anyone with information regarding sexual crimes against children is encouraged to call the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP.

Learn more about HSI’s mission to increase public safety in your community on X, formerly known as Twitter, @HSI_DC.

Know2Protect is a national public awareness campaign from the Department of Homeland Security. Know2Protect’s aim is to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults, and policymakers to prevent, combat, and report online child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information, please visit our YouTube playlists at Know2Protect Campaign PSA Playlist and Know2Protect Digital Safety Series Playlist on the DHS main channel. Additional resources are available at Know2Protect.gov, Instagram, Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.