FBI catches suspected child predator at Nashville International Airport

U.S. authorities say the FBI arrested a suspected child predator at Nashville International Airport after he traveled to attempt to meet a minor for sex. Alexander Towns, 44, was reportedly communicating with what he believed was a minor while distributing pornographic material and proposing a meeting, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release. Investigators said Towns was actually exchanging messages with an undercover FBI agent. If convicted, he faces penalties including a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison. Towns traveled from Ottawa, Canada, on June 15, to prepare for the meeting. The DOJ said he used an online application between May 6 and June 15 to try to arrange the encounter. The case was handled under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Prosecutors said federal law also bars the sale of recalled products tied to an approved recall process.