A Memphis man has been found guilty of multiple sex trafficking charges, as reported by the Department of Justice. Maurice Fitzgerald Alexander, Jr., 33, was convicted by a federal jury of offenses including Sex Trafficking of a Minor by Force, Fraud, or Coercion; Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking of a Minor; Transportation with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity; and Production of Child Pornography. Further, Alexander faces a mandatory additional 10 years for being a registered sex offender during the commission of these crimes.
According to the Department of Justice, the conviction followed a three-day trial before US District Judge James A. Soto. The sentencing for Alexander, who could spend the rest of his life behind bars, is scheduled for August 14. Tucson Police Department officers had responded to a 911 call from the victim in 2021, uncovering the minor had been trafficked across multiple states.
The DOJ release elaborates Alexander's capture ensued after an expansive investigation led by Tucson police and Homeland Security Investigators. The victim, a 14-year-old girl, endured trafficking through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado from August 19 to October 4, 2021. Alexander was subsequently arrested on October 21, 2021, in Tucson. A shocking discovery also showed the victim was forced to participate in the creation of explicit images and videos for online prostitution ads.
Each count Alexander has been convicted of carries severe penalties. The Sex Trafficking of a Minor by Force, Fraud, or Coerce faces up to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 15 years. The Conspiracy charge similarly holds a sentence of life. For Transportation with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity, he could also serve up to a life sentence, but no less than 10 years, while Production of Child Pornography could result in up to 30 years, but not less than 15 years in prison. The case was managed by Assistant United States Attorneys Nathaniel J. Walters, and Monica E. Ryan from the Tucson office.
