(CNN) A Florida man accused of groping a passenger on Southwest Airlines told an FBI agent after his arrest that the "President of the United States says it's OK to grab women by their private parts," according to a criminal complaint.

Bruce Michael Alexander, 49, a Tampa resident, was in federal custody after being charged federally on Sunday with abusive sexual contact on a female passenger during a flight from Houston to Albuquerque, New Mexico, the complaint said.

It's unclear if Alexander has an attorney.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The woman was identified in court documents as "C.W." She told investigators she fell asleep after boarding Flight 5421 and 15 to 20 minutes into the flight, she "felt a movement on the right side of her sweater," the complaint said.

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