Bowling Green, KY – On June 15, 2026, a Canadian man was arrested and charged by complaint, following an Investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with distribution of child pornography and attempted online enticement of a minor. U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.The complaint alleges that on or about and between May 6, 2026, to June 15, 2026, Alexander Towns, 44, used an online messaging application to communicate with an undercover officer regarding his intention of engaging in sexual acts with a purported minor child. During their communications, Towns distributed child sexual abuse materials to the undercover officer and made sexually explicit statements regarding his intentions with the purported minor. On June 15, 2026, Towns traveled from Ottawa, Canada to Nashville, Tennessee, for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with the purported minor. Towns was arrested by FBI agents upon arrival at Nashville International Airport. United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “The FBI did tremendous work in investigating and apprehending Towns. We will aggressively prosecute anyone accused of traveling to sexually abuse a minor. This is one of the most disturbing crimes that crosses my desk.”FBI Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson said, "To child predators who think you are anonymously preying upon vulnerable, innocent children through online applications, know that there's a good chance the FBI is on the other end. While this one perpetrator has been caught, the FBI will continue fighting every day to protect America's children from those who seek to exploit them."If convicted as charged in the complaint, Towns faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Yannelli is prosecuting the case.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”A complaint merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.###
Source: U.S. Department of Justice