By Jeff Devine, The Chronicle
A second defendant has been sentenced in a federal case involving the commercial exploitation of a 17-year-old victim, according to federal prosecutors.
Chloé Michelle Alexander, 32, originally from Columbus, Georgia, was sentenced Sept. 21, 2026, to 135 months in federal prison after admitting to her role in the scheme. She will also serve five years of supervised release following her prison term and is required to register as a sex offender for life.
There is no parole in the federal prison system.
According to court documents, Alexander conspired with co-defendant Jada Renee Coggins in late 2023 to induce the 17-year-old victim to engage in commercial sex acts.
As part of her plea agreement, Alexander admitted that she photographed the victim and used the images to advertise the victim for commercial sex acts. She also admitted to transporting the victim to locations where the victim was forced to engage in commercial sex acts with customers, including individuals arranged by Alexander.
Coggins previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. She was sentenced June 10, 2026, to 135 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Like Alexander, Coggins is required to register as a sex offender for life.
“Children should never be targets for sexual exploitation, and those who facilitate or participate in that exploitation will face serious consequences,” U.S. Attorney Thomas Govan said. “Our office remains committed to protecting vulnerable victims and pursuing justice against those who prey upon them. I commend the investigators and prosecutors whose dedication made this case possible.”
Acting Special Agent in Charge Ellen Johnson of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama said protecting children from exploitation remains a major priority for the agency.
“Protecting children from sexual exploitation is one of the highest priorities for HSI,” Johnson said. “We will continue to dedicate our specialized resources, alongside our law enforcement partners, to stop these heinous crimes and provide a measure of justice for the victims.”
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and the Opelika Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara S. Ratz, J. Patrick Lamb, and Russell T. Duraski prosecuted the case.
The case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program coordinates federal, state, and local resources to investigate and prosecute individuals who exploit children and to identify and assist victims.
