A man from St. Louis County has admitted to recording sexual activity with a 13-year-old and possessing fentanyl. Tyler Jacob Staub, 24, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Tuesday. He faces one count of possession of child pornography and one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Staub's plea agreement includes an admission of engaging in sexual activity with the victim and recording it on his phone. The case began on June 22, 2023, when the St. Charles County Police Department was alerted about a missing 13-year-old girl. Her parents suspected she might be with someone driving a red or black Ford Mustang.
Officers found a Mustang near the victim’s home with Staub and the victim inside, along with a Glock pistol, an AR-style pistol, and two bags containing fentanyl tablets. The victim informed investigators that she met Staub online via Snapchat about two months prior and had been meeting him in person for three or four weeks.
Staub is scheduled for sentencing on September 24. The child pornography charge could result in up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, while the fentanyl possession charge carries a penalty ranging from five to 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $5 million.
The investigation was conducted by the St. Charles County Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lang prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide.
