A man from Del Rio, Texas, was handed a decade-long prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges of coercing a minor. Alejandro Zavala, 31, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for using Snapchat to entice and engage in unlawful sexual activity with a 15-year-old, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office.
The court received detailed transcripts showing that Zavala purposefully started and maintained contact with the minor, leading to in-person encounters where sexual acts were performed. The minor was reported missing at one point during their communication, prompting an investigation that would ultimately bring Zavala to justice. Documents reveal that Zavala's arrest occurred on October 29, 2021, and he has been in custody since.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rex Beasley, who prosecuted the case, played a pivotal role in ensuring a guilty plea, which was entered by Zavala on September 26, 2022. The swift resolution to what the Department of Justice regards as a pervasive problem reflects ongoing efforts under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative targeting the exploitation of children through internet and technology-facilitated crimes.
