A Tuscaloosa County man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for crimes related to the sexual exploitation of children, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona.
Jalan Christopher Lewis, 31, received his sentence from United States District Judge R. David Proctor. In addition to the prison term, Lewis will be subject to a lifetime of supervised release and must pay a $5,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Act. Lewis pleaded guilty in October 2025 to several charges: coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, transferring obscene materials to minors, production of child pornography, and receipt and distribution of child pornography.
The plea agreement states that in July 2024, an undercover law enforcement officer used a social media application while posing as a 15-year-old girl in Tuscaloosa. After learning her age, Lewis proposed engaging in sexual activity with her. He continued communicating with the undercover officer and attempted to meet for sexual activity. When he arrived at the meeting location in August 2024, he was arrested with a condom hidden in his sock.
In December 2024, after being released on bond following his August arrest, law enforcement discovered that Lewis had engaged in sex acts with a 14-year-old victim whom he met through another social media application. Records showed that Lewis produced child pornography involving this minor and sent it back to her; he also received child pornography from her. He was arrested again for these offenses after police executed a search warrant at his home in January 2025.
This case is part of Operation Restore Justice—a coordinated effort by FBI field offices nationwide and other Department of Justice components—to identify and apprehend child sex predators. It is also connected with Project Safe Childhood, which began in May 2006 as an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse online by coordinating federal, state, and local resources for investigation and prosecution. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Anyone who suspects or becomes aware of possible child sexual exploitation is encouraged to contact law enforcement authorities. Reports can be made directly to the FBI Birmingham Office at 205-326-6166 or filed online with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.cybertipline.org.
The FBI Birmingham Field Office led the investigation along with the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.
