Malden Man Facing Federal Child Exploitation Charges

MALDEN, MA — The police department assisted federal authorities with the arrest of a man Tuesday morning who is now facing multiple federal child exploitation charges.

Anthony Fowlkes was taken into custody at approximately 6 a.m. as part of an ongoing federal investigation originating in Michigan. Malden police said the operation was led by Homeland Security Investigations offices in New England and Detroit, with the department providing local assistance and support.

Fowlkes is accused of exploiting and extorting multiple teenage girls in Michigan after obtaining explicit images from them. He has been charged with sexual exploitation of a child, distributing and receiving child pornography, transferring obscene matter to a minor, and interstate threats with intent to extort. Federal court records indicate investigators are also looking into the possibility of additional underage victims.

Fowlkes was arrested without incident pursuant to a federal arrest warrant, while a federal search warrant was also executed at his residence as part of the investigation. He was subsequently transferred to federal custody and transported to the federal courthouse in Boston. Court records indicate Fowlkes waived his right to a probable cause hearing and consented to being detained. Malden police said no local or state charges have been filed in connection with the investigation.

At the time of his arrest, Fowlkes worked for AlphaBEST, which operates an after-school program within Malden Public Schools. He had also previously worked at the Linden School. Superintendent Timothy Sippel said Fowlkes was terminated by AlphaBEST after the district learned of his arrest Tuesday morning and no longer has access to any Malden Public Schools facilities.

There is currently no indication that the allegations involve Malden Public Schools, Sippel said. District staff are cooperating with the federal investigation.

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