TUCSON, Ariz. — A Tennessee man was convicted by a federal jury May 22 of various counts involving sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud or coercion; conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor using force, fraud or coercion; transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity; and production of child pornography. This case was a joint investigation between Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Tucson Police Department.
Maurice Fitzgerald Alexander Jr., 33, of Memphis, faces an additional 10 years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence of imprisonment, for committing these offenses while being required to register as a sex offender.
The guilty verdicts came after a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge James A. Soto. Alexander’s sentencing is set for August 14.
On Oct. 4, 2021, officers from the Tucson Police Department responded to a 911 call from the victim and learned she had possibly been trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The investigation determined Alexander trafficked the victim, who was 14 years old at the time, through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Colorado between Aug. 19, 2021, and Oct. 4, 2021. HSI special agents and task force officers arrested Alexander in Tucson on Oct. 21, 2021. In addition, a review of Alexander’s cellphone showed that he also forced the minor victim to create photos and videos depicting sexually explicit conduct that were later used in advertisements on social media and various websites commonly used for prostitution.
A conviction for sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud or coercion carries a maximum penalty of up to life in prison, but no less than 15 years. A conviction for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor using force, fraud or coercion carries a maximum penalty of up to life in prison. Transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity carries a maximum penalty of up to life in prison, but no less than 10 years. A conviction for production of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison, but no less than 15 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Arizona in Tucson Nathaniel J. Walters and Monica E. Ryan prosecuted the case.
About HSI
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce consists of over 10,000 employees, assigned to 235 offices within the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI's international presence represents the Department of Homeland Security’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.