ST. LOUIS — A former Florissant, Mo., police officer who illegally searched the phones of 20 women for nude photos during traffic stops was sentenced Wednesday, March 11, 2026, to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay $2,681 in restitution, according to information from the U.S. District Court.
The U.S. District Court reported that Julian Alcala, 31, pulled the women over while on duty, in uniform, and in a marked police vehicle between Feb. 6, 2024, and May 18, 2024. Alcala took mobile phones from 19 of the victims by claiming that he needed to go back to his patrol car and use their phones to confirm insurance coverage. He told the 20th that he was confirming her vehicle registration.
Alcala, 30, pleaded guilty in December 2025 to 20 counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, namely the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug prosecuted the case.
“When Julian Alcala abused his authority, the damage extended far beyond his immediate victims,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “His actions dishonored the badge and undermined the public trust that every officer is sworn to uphold. I appreciate the leadership of the Florissant Police Department for working closely with the FBI to hold Alcala accountable and ensure he could no longer victimize members of this community.”
Alcala searched through the phones without a warrant, probable cause, or a lawful reason. When he found images that portrayed either the victim or a loved one or both in a partial or full state of nudity, he used his own cell phone to take photographs. Alcala also found and forwarded a video of one victim to his cell phone. When that victim discovered the forwarding of the video and reported it to the FBI, court-approved search warrants of Alcala’s cell phone and his cloud storage uncovered the other victims.
In court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug said Alcala had violated his oath to protect and serve. Victims, she said, had previously trusted police officers, but Alcala’s actions had replaced that trust with “mistrust and disgust and fear of law enforcement.”
Krug pointed out that Alcala victimized five women in just one shift. In another, he victimized three women, and in a third, he victimized two.
