Joshua Michael Bowden, a 43-year-old resident of Dallas, Texas, has been sentenced to ten years in prison for attempting to engage in sexual acts with a minor. Bowden admitted to the charges of coercion and enticement of a minor after he was caught in an undercover operation.
Court documents reveal that on September 28, 2023, during a business trip to Utah, Bowden began communicating online with someone he believed to be the father of an 11-year-old boy. This individual was actually an undercover officer. During their conversations, Bowden expressed his intent to engage in sexual activities with the child. He was apprehended when he arrived at the arranged meeting location. A subsequent search of his phone uncovered child sexual abuse material.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti from the District of Utah. The investigation was conducted by the FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Joey Blanch prosecuted the case on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at addressing child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The project coordinates efforts between federal, state, and local agencies to prosecute offenders and rescue victims.
For further information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
