Man sentenced to 40 years in prison for sex trafficking

A man found guilty by a federal court jury of sex trafficking of minors through force, fraud or coercion was sentenced last week to 40 years in prison.

Maurice Fitzgerald Alexander Jr., 33, was also found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit sexual trafficking of a minor by force, fraud or coercion, one count of transportation with intent to commit sexually criminal acts and one count of production of child pornography, according to a news release from the Arizona District Attorney's Office.

In October 2021, Tucson police received a call from Alexander's victim, a then 14-year-old girl who said she had been trafficked for sexual exploitation, the news release said.

An investigation revealed that Alexander smuggled the victim through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Colorado between August 19 and October 4.

Special agents and Department of Homeland Security Task Force officers arrested Alexander in Tucson on October 21, 2021.

A review of Alexander's phone revealed that Alexander also forced the victim to create photos and videos of sexually explicit behavior that were later used in advertisements on social media and various other websites used for prostitution, the press release said.