Clinton Township Man Sentenced To 30 Years For Sexual Exploitation of Children

DETROIT – A Clinton Township man who coerced several minors into sending him sexually explicit photographs of themselves was sentenced to 30 years in prison, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today.

Ison was joined in the announcement by James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Alexander James Decker, 21, admitted that in April and May of 2021 he met a 13-year-old girl on Snapchat and requested that she make and send him sexually explicit images of herself. When she stopped sending images, he threatened to distribute the previous sexually explicit images she had sent, to have $700 of pizza delivered to her house, and to mail feces to her home if she did not comply. Decker also threatened and coerced several other minors into providing him with sexually explicit images.  In June 2022, Decker pleaded guilty to the sexual exploitation of children.  At his plea hearing, Decker acknowledged that through his actions, he qualified as a repeat and dangerous sex offender.  Decker was sentenced by United States District Judge Sean F. Cox.

“This offender terrorized and tortured minors to obtain sexually explicit images from them.  This significant sentence shows that we will continue to work to protect the most vulnerable and to make the Internet a safer place for our children.” stated Dawn N. Ison, United States Attorney.

“Mr. Decker hid behind the anonymity of the Internet to target, sexually exploit, and threaten children in the most reprehensible of ways. The protection of our children from predators like this defendant will remain a priority for the FBI as long as criminals like him exist,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “I commend the bravery of the young victim who took the first step towards holding Decker accountable for his crimes by reporting him to law enforcement.” 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Rawsthorne.