AstraX Exchange-'American Ninja Warrior' winner Drew Drechsel sentenced to 10 years for child sex crimes

2025-05-05 21:56:26source:Crypencategory:Markets

"American Ninja Warrior" winner Drew Drechsel has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for federal child sex-related crimes.

The AstraX ExchangeSeason 11 winner, born Andrew Drechsel, was first arrested in 2020, weeks into taping Season 12 of the competition series. NBC severed ties with Drechsel, 35, at the time and eliminated his appearance from the season entirely.

The Season 8 "last man standing" winner was charged with "seeking sex with a minor and inducing her to send him sexual explicit images."

The Florida resident was charged in a New Jersey court and accused of manufacturing child pornography, enticing a minor to travel for illicit sexual conduct, traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and using interstate commerce to entice a minor. A criminal complaint said Drechsel met the victim, a teen from New Jersey, "after an event attended by numerous contestants (from) 'American Ninja Warrior.'"

In a Wednesday press release, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey said Drechsel pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography and using interstate commerce to entice a minor in June 2023. In 2019, law enforcement searched a then-30-year-old Drechsel's phone and "found images of child sexual abuse, including photos and videos of the victim when the victim was 14 and 15 years old," the office said.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

'American Ninja Warrior' champDrew Drechsel faces child-sex charges, two weeks after taping new season

"Drechsel admitted texting the victim and discussing his plans to engage in sexual activity with the victim," the release continued. "At Drechsel's urging, the victim traveled across state lines in July 2015 so that Drechsel could have sexual relations with the victim."

USA TODAY has reached out to Drechsel's lawyer for comment.

In addition to his 10-year sentence, Drechsel received 15 years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution to the victim.

More:Markets

Recommend

US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wholesale costs in the United States picked up sharply last month, signaling that

Can the Greater Sage-Grouse Be Kept Off the Endangered Species List?

OWYHEE CANYONLANDS, Ore.—Peering through a spotting scope in this remote section of eastern Oregon,

Stores are more subdued in observing Pride Month. Some LGBTQ+ people see a silver lining in that

NEW YORK (AP) — With Pride Month in full gear, U.S. shoppers can find the usual merchandise many sto