Former Missouri Police Officer Sentenced for Unlawfully Searching Women's Cell Phones
A former Florissant Police Department officer in Missouri was sentenced in federal court for unlawfully searching women's cell phones for nude photos during traffic stops. Julian Alcala admitted to pulling over multiple women, taking their phones to his police vehicle under false pretenses, and searching for nude images. He did this 20 times between February and May 2024. Alcala was caught after forwarding a victim's video to his phone, leading to the discovery of pictures of 19 other victims. He pleaded guilty to 20 counts of deprivation of rights under color of law and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution. The FBI and Florissant Police Department worked together to hold Alcala accountable and ensure justice for the victims.