Missouri – The Department of Justice announced in a press release that an undocumented immigrant living in Missouri admitted in federal court to having child se*ual abuse material. The confession occurred after investigators looked at a cell phone that had been taken during an arrest related to a different criminal case involving child abuse.
On Friday, Francisco J. Ocana-Talamantes, 47, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of having child pornography. After he was arrested on March 8, 2024, a court-approved search of his phone led to the charge. Later, investigators found that the device had hundreds of illegal files on it.
The federal government reported that the forensic review found 338 photos and videos of child se*ual assault. Ocana-Talamantes admitted to the prosecutors that he knew the content was illegal and that it was on his phone. The discovery happened after he was arrested on charges of abusing a child over a period of years, which led police to take additional measures to investigate.
Sentencing in the federal case is scheduled for March 18, 2026. Under federal law, the offense carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors also said that Ocana-Talamantes from St. Charles County is in the US illegally and will be sent back to Mexico after serving whatever prison time that the court gives him.
Several federal and local agencies worked together on the investigation. The FBI partnered with the St. Charles Police Department and the St. Charles County Cyber Crime Task Force to identify, analyze, and document the illegal material. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson.
Federal officials said that the case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a long-running national effort to stop the se*ual abuse and exploitation of children. The Department of Justice started the initiative in 2006.
It brings together resources from federal, state, and local authorities to find criminals, file criminal charges, and identify victims. Authorities believe that this effort is still an important part of fighting crimes against children that happen online or with technology, and they remain committed to holding offenders accountable through the federal judicial system.
