From The Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — A Birmingham man was sentencing to prison for sex trafficking a minor, and sexual exploitation of children on Tuesday, August 2.
Alexander pleaded guilty to this charge in November 2020.
The plea agreement states that on or about July 16, 2021, FBI Birmingham’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force received a priority lead regarding a 14-year-old female reported missing out of Madison, Wisconsin. As a result, FBI Birmingham and Homewood Police Special Investigations Unit launched an immediate investigation to find and recover the child.
They located her through an advertisement on a website known for commercial sex advertisements. A task force officer responded to the number posted in the advertisement, and arrangements were made to meet the victim at a specific location. Members of the task force responded to a local hotel and located the minor victim in the hotel room with Alexander.
“I am very grateful for the swift response of the Homewood Police Department and FBI who located and recovered the child victim in this case,” U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona said. “The interstate trafficking of children for the purpose of sexual exploitation is a despicable crime, and my office will make every effort to find and prosecute those who commit this offense.”
Further investigation revealed child sexual abuse material involving Alexander and the minor victim located on Alexander’s cell phone. This conviction will require Alexander to register as a sex offender in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
“I’m proud of the work of the FBI Birmingham’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and our partners at the Homewood Police Department to bring Alexander to justice and rescue this young victim. We will not stop our pursuit of those who victimize the most vulnerable members of our community,” FBI SAC Johnnie Sharp, Jr. said.