Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A Lawrence resident, Alex Bou, 22, has been arrested and charged with attempted sex trafficking of a child. Authorities allege that Bou responded to an online advertisement posted by undercover law enforcement on August 16, 2025. The ad featured images of a young-looking female and language suggesting the individual was underage.
According to charging documents, Bou initiated contact via text message and continued communication with an undercover agent who stated she was a 15-year-old girl offering sex acts for money. Investigators allege that Bou agreed to pay $175 for unprotected sex with the purported minor and acknowledged her age in their conversation. Bou was apprehended after arriving at the arranged meeting location.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and could result in up to life imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on relevant guidelines and statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division, announced the arrest. The Massachusetts State Police and Boston Police Department assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig E. Estes is prosecuting the case.
"This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc."
Officials remind that all details contained in charging documents are allegations; Bou is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Anyone affected or aware of commercial sex trafficking can contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov for assistance.
