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Child Predator Sting Named for Murdered Allen County Girl Nets Seven Arrests

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The memory of a young girl from Allen County who was murdered five years ago is helping bring alleged child predators to justice.

On Monday, federal prosecutors announced the arrests of seven men following undercover stings in Elizabethtown and Louisville in late 2019.

The investigation was dubbed “Operation Gabbi Doolin.”  The seven-year-old from Scottsville was kidnapped and murdered while at her brother’s football game on November 14, 2015. 

During a news conference, Russell Coleman, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, held up a cell phone and said child predators are taking advantage of more kids at home  who are unsupervised during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is one of the most damaging, one of the most threatening and dangerous items in your home," Coleman said.

Among those arrested was Charles Ashley, 66, of Allen County, as well as Melvin Dowell, 54, and sTravis Puckett, 23, both of Hardin County.  A total of seven defendants have been charged or have pleaded guilty to a range of child exploitation charges with maximum penalties of life in prison.

Gabbi Doolin’s family was in attendance at Monday's announcement in Louisville. Pledging to honor her memory in both word and deed, federal prosecutors said more arrests are coming.

The seven individuals charged with federal offenses include:

  • Charles Ashley, 66, of Adolphus, Kentucky has been charged with the attempted enticement of a minor, attempted transfer of obscene matter to a minor, and attempted production of child pornography. He faces not less than 10 years for the enticement charge, not less than 15 years for the attempted production charge and not more than 10 years for attempted transfer of obscene matter to a minor.  The maximum potential sentence is life in prison.
  • Jimmy Kwizera, 22, of Louisville, Kentucky, has pleaded guilty to transfer of obscene material to a minor. He faces not more than 10 years in federal prison at sentencing which has been scheduled for December 10, 2020.
  • Melvin Dowell, 54, of Rineyville, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to attempted enticement and transfer of obscene material to a minor. He faces a mandatory minimum 10 year prison sentence. The maximum potential sentence is life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for February 1, 2020. 
  • Joseph Zakhari, 33, of Louisville, Kentucky, has been charged in a Superseding Indictment with attempted online enticement of a minor, attempted transfer of obscene matter to a minor, and attempted production of child pornography. He faces not less than 10 years for the enticement charge, not less than 15 years for the attempted production charge and not more than 10 years for attempted transfer of obscene matter to a minor.  The maximum potential sentence is life in prison.
  • Jeffrie Corn, 25, of Louisville, Kentucky, has been charged with attempted enticement of a minor and attempted transfer of obscene matter to a minor.  He faces not less than 10 years for the enticement charge and not more than 10 years for attempted transfer of obscene matter to a minor.  The maximum potential sentence is life in prison.
  • Travis Puckett, 23, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, has been charged with attempted enticement of a minor, attempted transfer of obscene matter to a minor.  He faces not less than 10 years for the enticement charge and not more than 10 years for attempted transfer of obscene matter to a minor.   The maximum potential sentence is life in prison.  Puckett is scheduled to plead guilty on November 23, 2020.
  • Eric Vanhandle, 54, Louisville, Kentucky, has been charged with attempted enticement of a minor.  He faces not less than 10 years in prison for the charge.  The maximum potential sentence is life in prison.

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