Terrance Vertrone Alwayne Lowder III, also known as “Trey,” was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for crimes related to child sex trafficking. The sentencing follows his guilty plea to charges including conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor, sex trafficking a minor, and receiving benefits from such acts. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “I deeply appreciate not only the excellent investigative work by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office that helped bring this offender to justice, but also the vigilance of the private citizen who reported the suspicious activity that led to his arrest. This offender exploited and victimized a vulnerable minor for his own financial gain, and now a prison cell awaits him for his heinous crimes.”
According to court documents, Lowder recruited and directed a 16-year-old to engage in commercial sex acts with adults at a local motel between January 2 and January 3, 2024. He conspired with others to transport the minor to the motel and provided drugs and alcohol. Lowder used text messaging and social media to offer the minor for sex acts with multiple adults. Motel staff alerted authorities about unregistered guests in one of their rooms, which led law enforcement officers from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office to recover the minor and arrest Lowder.
Sheriff Tommy Ford commented: “Thanks to the quick action of our deputies and the strong partnership we share with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, this young victim was rescued, and the offender will never again have the opportunity to harm another child. The Bay County Sheriff’s Office remains steadfast in our commitment to protect the most vulnerable among us and to bring to justice those who would prey upon them.”
FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley added: “Lowder admitted to orchestrating the trafficking of a juvenile, and today’s sentence ensures he can no longer harm vulnerable victims. Human trafficking is a crime that happens all around us and impacts the safety of our neighborhoods and our quality of life. FBI Jacksonville will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners at every level to disrupt and dismantle the people responsible for this illegal activity.”
After serving his prison term, Lowder will be subject to ten years of supervised release as well as lifetime registration as a sex offender.
The case resulted from an investigation conducted jointly by local law enforcement—the Bay County Sheriff’s Office—and federal authorities from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen prosecuted.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), an initiative by federal agencies designed in part through resources from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) aimed at countering violent crime linked with cartels or transnational criminal organizations.
Additionally, it is part of Project Safe Childhood—a national program started by Department of Justice in May 2006—which coordinates efforts across federal, state, and local levels against child sexual exploitation online; more information can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for Northern District of Florida is one among 94 offices serving under direction from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland nationwide; further details on public court records are available through U.S. District Court for Northern District of Florida or via http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
