⏱ 2 min read
A Sioux Falls man’s appetite for child porn landed him a 9+ year prison sentence. Alexander Juan Cotton, 28, pleaded guilty to possessing over 300 images and videos of child pornography, some of which featured victims as young as 1-2 years old. He obtained the files over the internet and through online platforms like Telegram and Mega between May 2, 2024, and June 13, 2024.
Cotton’s crime was discovered after a federal grand jury indicted him in July 2025. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier on April 21, 2026. As part of his sentence, Cotton will have to register as a sex offender and pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb. It’s the latest in a string of convictions brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Cotton’s fate was sealed after a guilty plea on January 27, 2026. He’s currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, facing a long stretch behind bars for his heinous crimes.
Related Federal Cases
- Ryan Davies, Child Pornography Possession, South Dakota 2018 · South Dakota
- Marc Jones, Child Pornography Possession, South Dakota 2024 · Iowa
- Nathan Frisch, Child Pornography, South Dakota 2024 · Iowa
- Nathan Frisch, Child Pornography Receipt, South Dakota 2024 · South Dakota
- Sioux Falls Man, Child Porn Possession, South Dakota 2024 · Iowa
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Sex Crimes
- Defendant: South Dakota
- Location: SD
- Source: DOJ Press Release
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Sex CrimesSex CrimesSex CrimesSex Crimes