ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a Mexican national to 18 years in prison for sexually abusing a minor.
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Giovanni Falcon, 41, began messaging a 15-year-old girl on Instagram in 2024 using an alias. In July and August of that year, Falcon sent the victim images of his genitals. Falcon then repeatedly engaged in sexual contact with the victim. On Aug. 13, 2024, the victim’s father contacted the St. Ann Police Department after discovering the explicit Instagram messages. St. Ann police arrested Falcon the next day, and he admitted sexually abusing the victim.
Another juvenile alleged sexual abuse by Falcon several years ago, according to statements at Wednesday’s hearing.
Falcon is not in the country legally and will be deported upon his release from prison.
Falcon pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in September to transfer of obscene material to a minor and coercion and enticement of a minor.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the St. Ann Police Department and the St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
