NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the indictment of Paul Alexander, 57, of the Bronx, a Level 3 Sex Offender, for sex trafficking young girls throughout New York City. Alexander’s indictment is the result of a long-term joint investigation between the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) and the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) Vice Major Case Squad, Human Trafficking Team. Alexander’s arrest and charges in December 2020 marked the first time Attorney General James has charged a defendant with the newly enacted crime of Sex Trafficking of a Child, which strengthens prosecutors’ ability to hold sex traffickers accountable.
In a 17-count indictment — unsealed today before Bronx County Supreme Court, Criminal Division Judge Michael A. Gross — Alexander was charged with multiple counts of Sex Trafficking of a Child; and related counts of First, Second, Third, and Fourth Degrees of Promoting Prostitution; Conspiracy; multiple counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child; and Obscenity charges. Both Sex Trafficking of a Child and First-Degree Promoting Prostitution are class B felonies, and the Sex Trafficking of a Child is a violent felony offense. Alexander faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted of the top counts. Additionally, Alexander was remanded and ordered to return to court on March 12, 2021.
“The sexual exploitation of children is disgraceful, sickening, and blatantly illegal,” said Attorney General James. “Adults have the responsibility to protect children, yet Alexander’s alleged actions exposed minors to untold pain and suffering. My office will continue to use every tool in our arsenal to root out sex traffickers and child abusers, and bring justice to their victims. I thank the NYPD for their partnership in this work.”
“Today’s charges further affirm the NYPD’s unwavering commitment to combating sex trafficking and protecting the survivors of this heinous crime,” said NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea. “I commend our NYPD investigators and the New York state attorney general for their sustained work in this important case.”
The investigation was named “Operation Mile High,” after investigators revealed Alexander was listed as the C.E.O. of Central Jet Charter, a private aircraft charter company. Through the use of covert recording devices, social media, and undercover operations, the investigative team determined that Alexander was, in fact, trafficking children across county lines for sex. The initial investigation began after female minors reported Alexander to the NYPD, alleging that Alexander sexually abused them and other underage girls, and promoted them for prostitution to other men. An undercover police officer met with Alexander, who charged him a total of $300 for sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old victim and a 14-year-old victim — and encouraged the undercover officer to use alcohol and marijuana to make the victims more cooperative.
The investigation further revealed that, between 2018 and 2020, Alexander would lure female teenage victims (ages 12 to 16) to his apartment in Bronx County, often using marijuana and food to entice them. Once there, Alexander would attempt to perform sexual acts with them, expose himself to them, and show the victims nude photographs. Alexander also displayed nude photographs of himself with other female teenagers to his victims.
Alexander was arrested on December 5, 2020.
