Rody L. Bowden, a 40-year-old man from Prince George’s County, Maryland, pleaded guilty on May 7, 2019, to the federal charge of sex trafficking of a minor. At the time of the crimes, Bowden was already a registered sex offender—twice convicted for prior sex offenses—making the case one of brazen predation on a vulnerable child.
The guilty plea, announced by U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur and Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), exposes a calculated pattern of abuse. Between late 2016 and early 2017, Bowden engaged in commercial sex acts with a 14-year-old ninth-grade student, repeatedly bringing the victim to motel rooms in Anne Arundel County for exploitation.
On January 4, 2017, Bowden recorded a video of the minor performing oral sex on him. The next day, he uploaded the footage to a pornographic streaming website under an account he created, allowing public access to the material through his social network. On September 4, 2017, he emailed a copy of the video to another account he controlled—preserving and propagating the evidence of his crime.
Bowden’s criminal history includes two prior convictions for third-degree sex offenses in Prince George’s County and Charles County, mandating his registration as a sex offender. Despite this status, he continued to groom and exploit minors. He has been in federal custody since his arrest and will remain so pending sentencing.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Bowden and prosecutors have agreed to a sentence between 20 and 25 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for July 30, 2019, at 9:15 a.m. Federal sentences carry no parole and no suspended time—meaning Bowden will serve every year handed down by the court.
The case was investigated by the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, a multi-agency coalition formed in 2007 to combat human trafficking through coordinated rescue and prosecution efforts. U.S. Attorney Hur praised HSI’s relentless work and credited Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers for leading the prosecution. Tips on trafficking can be reported 24/7 via HSI’s tip line: 866-DHS-2ICE or online at www.justice.gov/usao/md/priorities_human.html.
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Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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