Show-Me State Times

A Mexican national has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to charges related to the sexual abuse of a minor and sending explicit material over social media. Giovanni Falcon, 41, admitted to transferring obscene material to a minor and coercion and enticement of a minor.

According to court records, Falcon messaged a 15-year-old girl on Instagram between January 1, 2024, and August 12, 2024. During July and August of that year, he sent images of his genitals to the victim. Authorities say Falcon also engaged in sexual contact with the girl on several occasions.

The case came to light when the victim’s father discovered explicit messages on Instagram and contacted the St. Ann Police Department on August 13, 2024. Officers arrested Falcon the following day, at which time he admitted sexually abusing the victim.

"The U.S. Attorney’s office will ask for 216 months in prison at Falcon’s sentencing, which has been set for Jan. 27, 2026. Falcon is not in the country legally and will be deported upon his released from prison."

The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations along with the St. Ann Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting.

"This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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." More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.