Man Admits Meeting 14-Year-Old to Engage in Sexual Activity

ST. LOUIS – A man living in St. Louis County on Monday admitted meeting with a 14-year-old to engage in sexual activity.

Yeison Perdomo, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor.

Perdomo met the victim in February of 2024 on a dating website. The victim initially said she was 20 years old, then 15, then “not yet” 15, Perdomo’s plea agreement says. Between February 28 and March 8, the pair exchanged 8,462 text messages. They often discussed meeting to engage in sexual activity. Perdomo, who is a citizen of Spain and unlawfully residing in the United States, mentioned getting married when the victim turned 18 so he might acquire status as a legal resident.

On March 8, Perdomo picked the victim up from school and took her to his home in Berkeley, Missouri. When she didn’t come home, her family reported her missing, and the Chesterfield Police Department identified Perdomo’s vehicle and tracked him to his home. Early in the morning of March 9, officers with the Berkeley and Chesterfield police found Perdomo and the victim hiding under a blanket in his vehicle’s backseat. Perdomo refused police commands and had to be dragged from the vehicle. The victim told police that the pair had engaged in sexual activity.

At Perdomo’s September 18 sentencing, both sides have agreed to recommend 10 years in prison. He will be required to register as a sex offender and will likely be deported after his release from prison.

The Chesterfield Police Department, the Berkeley Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes is prosecuting the case.

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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.