Joseph Dalton Bowman was indicted on federal child sex crimes and authorities believe there may be victims in the Bay Area. Image is courtesy of the Department of Justice.
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TAMPA, Fla. – A Nashville man faces federal child exploitation charges as investigators search for potential victims in Tampa, Lakeland and other cities nationwide.
Joseph Dalton Bowman, 32, was detained following a federal court appearance in Texas after a grand jury indicted him on three counts. If convicted, Bowman faces up to life in federal prison.
Federal investigation
What we know:
Federal authorities are asking parents in the Tampa and Lakeland areas to come forward if they suspect their children had contact with Joseph Dalton Bowman.
A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas indicted the 32-year-old Nashville, Tennessee man on charges of coercion of a minor, production of child pornography and traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Bowman appeared before U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on Monday and was ordered detained. Investigators believe Bowman may have had contact with minors in person or through social media accounts, including “snapwithdalton,” across several states.
In addition to Tampa and Lakeland, federal authorities say Bowman may have had contact with minors in:
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- North Chesterfield, Virginia
- Glen Allen, Virginia
- Covington, Kentucky
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- New York City, New York
- Brooklyn, New York
- Mulvane, Kansas
- Caldwell, Kansas
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Mount Juliet, Tennessee
- Orlando, Florida
- Dallas, Texas
- Frisco, Texas
Suspect details and search
What we don’t know:
Authorities have not released the number of potential victims involved in the case.
It remains unknown how long the alleged activities occurred or how many total children were contacted online or in person.
National child safety initiative
The backstory:
The case was brought under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative created in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation.
Reporting suspicious contacts
What you can do:
Anyone who suspects their child had contact with Bowman in person or online, is asked to call the HSI Tipline at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP.
Tips can also be submitted through the HSI Online Tip Form or the NCMEC CyberTipline. Law enforcement officials stated they will take necessary measures to protect the identities and confidential information of all minors involved.
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