Canadian Man Charged with Traveling to Albany in Attempt to Meet 10-Year-Old for Sex

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Alexander MacFayden, age 58, a citizen of Canada, appeared in court today on a charge of attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity.  United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Alfred Watson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. 

According to a federal complaint, MacFayden engaged in a series of online conversations earlier this year with an individual in Albany whom he believed would allow him to engage in sexual contact with a 10-year-old relative.  On August 25, 2023, MacFayden drove from the Toronto area to Albany to engage in sexual contact with the minor.  He was arrested in the Town of Colonie that evening, and later admitted he drove to Albany with the intent to engage in sexual contact with a minor.  Today, MacFayden was ordered detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for tomorrow, August 29. 

If convicted of the charge, MacFayden faces up to life in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.  MacFayden could also be required to register as a sex offender.

This case is being investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Colonie Police Department, the Rotterdam Police Department, and the New York State Police.  Assistant United States Attorney Joseph S. Hartunian is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. 

Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).  Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.