A 22-year-old Lawrence man was arrested this week after prosecutors say he arranged to pay to have sex with what he believed was an underage girl.
Alex Bou is charged with one count of attempted sex trafficking of a child. He made an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Wednesday, after which he was released on conditions, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foley’s office said in a statement.
On Aug. 16, prosecutors say Bou replied to an advertisement posted by undercover law enforcement on a website used to advertise commercial sex. The advertisement included images of a young girl and language describing the girl as a “flower ready to blossom,” Foley’s office said.
Prosecutors say Bou sent a text to a phone number listed on the advertisement saying, “U available.” An undercover agent posing as the minor suggested they meet on Aug. 19, Foley’s office said.
On Aug. 19, Bou continued his conversation with the agent. In the conversation, the agent pretended to be a 15-year-old girl available to perform sex acts for money. When he was told the girl he was supposed to meet was 15, Bou responded with, “Ok are you a virgin?” according to the statement.
Prosecutors say Bou agreed to pay $175 to have unprotected sex with the minor and acknowledged he was agreeing to have sex with an “underage girl.” Shortly after that, Bou arrived at the agreed-upon meeting location, where he was arrested, Foley’s office said.
The charge of attempted sex trafficking of a child carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
