A U.S. couple sexually abused a minor in Mexico, recorded the attacks, and later offered the videos for sale online. The case was eventually uncovered by FBI agents and could now result in one of the perpetrators spending the rest of his life in federal prison.
Alekzander Quinn Bywater, 32, formerly a resident of Colorado Springs, was found guilty by a federal jury of conspiring with his wife, Anika Bywater, 29, originally from Gonzales, Texas, to sexually exploit the victim while they were in Mexico.
The U.S. Department of Justice reported on August 20 that Alekzander was convicted of federal offenses related to the exploitation of a minor and the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
He now faces a maximum potential sentence of 150 years in prison. His sentence will be determined later by a federal judge.
The abuse occurred in Veracruz
The events date back to January 2024, when Alekzander and Anika were in the Mexican state of Veracruz.
According to federal documents and evidence presented during the trial, on two separate occasions the couple agreed to create recordings in which they sexually abused a minor. Authorities identified the files as Video-1 and Video-2.
The Department of Justice said authorities became aware of the case after discovering that recordings of the abuse were circulating online.
Alekzander later uploaded both videos to an internet site and advertised them for sale. The Criminal Division of the Department of Justice said the videos were offered through the dark web.
An undercover agent purchased the videos
The investigation took a turn in February 2024. On February 6 and 7, an undercover agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Maryland purchased and downloaded the videos that Alekzander had put up for sale.
The operation allowed investigators to directly obtain the recordings documenting the abuse committed against the victim in Mexico.
FBI agents later recovered the same two videos from a desktop computer and a laptop used to commit the crimes.
But the discovery did not end there.
The devices also contained another video showing Alekzander sexually abusing the same victim, along with thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse material depicting the exploitation of other minors.
Anika Bywater has already been sentenced
Anika Bywater pleaded guilty in December 2025 to conspiracy to engage in illicit sexual conduct abroad.
In March 2026, federal judge Brenan A. Hudson sentenced her to 25 years in prison, followed by another 20 years of supervised release.
The case against Alekzander proceeded to trial. The federal jury ultimately found him guilty in August 2026.
He could now face a maximum cumulative sentence of up to 150 years behind bars, although that figure does not mean he will necessarily receive that sentence. The judge will determine the punishment based on federal sentencing guidelines and other factors established by law.
FBI personnel in Mexico participated in the investigation
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit, with assistance from the agency’s office in Mexico City and the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative created in 2006 to combat child exploitation and sexual abuse, identify perpetrators, and locate and protect victims.
“This defendant and his wife, Anika, perpetrated this heinous crime together and even attempted to profit from their conduct,” said A. Tysen Duva, Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division.
The date on which Alekzander Quinn Bywater will be sentenced has not yet been announced.
Source: azcentral
