Rody L. Bowden, age 41
UPDATE: Baltimore, Md. – February 29, 2020 – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake yesterday sentenced Rody L. Bowden, age 41, of Prince George’s County, Maryland, to 22 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, on the charge of sex trafficking of a minor. Bowden was a registered sex offender at the time of the offense and will be required to continue to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge John Eisert of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
“This is an egregious case because the defendant was already a twice-convicted sex offender and his victim was a 14-year old child,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Rody Bowden will now serve 22 years in federal prison, where there are no suspended sentences and no parole – ever. This sentence sends a powerful message that the sex trafficking of children will not be tolerated in Maryland.”
“This man—already a two-time sex offender—exploited and trafficked a child,” said John Eisert, HSI Baltimore special agent in charge. “HSI is committed to finding and investigating predators like him so they can no longer harm our communities’ most vulnerable members—its children.”
According to Bowden’s plea agreement, in late 2016 and early 2017, Bowden engaged in commercial sex acts with a 14-year-old ninth-grade student, including in Anne Arundel County motel rooms. On January 4, 2017, Bowden recorded a video of the victim engaged in oral sex with him. The next day, Bowden created an account on a streaming pornographic website and uploaded the video to his account, where it could be viewed by all of Bowden’s followers on the site. On September 4, 2017, Bowden e-mailed a copy of the video to another account that he controlled.
Bowden was previously required to register as a sex offender, stemming from two convictions for third-degree sex offenses in Prince George’s County and Charles County. Bowden has been detained since his arrest.
This case was investigated by the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, formed in 2007 to discover and rescue victims of human trafficking while identifying and prosecuting offenders. Members include federal, state and local law enforcement, as well as victim service providers and local community members. For more information about the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/md/priorities_human.html.
Report suspected instances of human trafficking to HSI’s tip line at 866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended HSI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers, who prosecuted the case.
BALTIMORE, MD – On Wednesday, May 16, a federal grand jury has indicted Rody L. Bowden, 39, of Prince George’s County, on charges of Sex Trafficking of a Minor, Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and Transportation of Child Pornography. Bowden was also charged with committing these offenses as a registered sex offender.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Andre R. Watson of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Chief Tim Altomare of the Anne Arundel County Police Department.
According to the four-count indictment, in December 2016, Bowden engaged in commercial sex acts with a 14-year-old ninth-grade student, including in Anne Arundel County motel rooms. On January 4, 2017, he recorded a video of the victim engaged in oral sex with him. On September 4, 2017, Bowden e-mailed a copy of the video to another account that he controlled.
Bowden was previously required to register as a sex offender, stemming from two convictions for third-degree sex offenses in Prince George’s County and Charles County. Bowden was previously arrested on a criminal complaint, and has been ordered detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending trial.
Bowden faces a mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life, for Sex Trafficking of a Minor; a mandatory 35 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life, for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor; and a mandatory 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, for Transportation of Child Pornography. He faces an additional 10 years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, for allegedly committing these offenses as a registered sex offender. An initial appearance has been scheduled for 11:00 a.m. in U.S. District Court in Baltimore on May 25, 2018.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended HSI and the Anne Arundel County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary A. Myers and Ray D. McKenzie, who are prosecuting the case.
