ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A 49-year-old Tampa man is facing federal charges after being accused of inappropriate behavior on a flight. 

  • Tampa man accused of groping woman on flight
  • Bruce Michael Alexander, 49, charged with abusive sexual contact
  • Alexander could face 2 years in prison and $250,000 fine

Bruce Michael Alexander appeared in federal court Monday in Albuquerque, N.M., on a criminal complaint charging him with abusive sexual contact.  

The charge against Alexander arose out of an in-flight incident while traveling on a Southwest Airlines flight from Houston to Albuquerque on Sunday. The criminal complaint alleges he groped a woman in the seat in front of him. The woman then requested that flight attendants move her to a different seat.

A conviction on the abusive sexual contact charge carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department.