David Montelongo Jailed for Trying to Meet 13-Year-Old Online

David Montelongo, a 27-year-old McAllen man, is headed to federal prison after pleading guilty to attempting to entice a minor for sex through a social media app. The case, prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Texas, exposes a calculated effort to groom and meet a child he believed was just 13 years old.

On January 21, Montelongo initiated contact with an individual he thought was a teenage girl, using a popular social platform to send explicit messages. Over the course of weeks, he detailed sexual acts he wanted to perform, including taking her virginity, according to court records. The conversations were not impulsive — they built toward a planned in-person meeting, showing intent and premeditation.

Montelongo arranged to meet the supposed minor at a park in McAllen. When he showed up, he saw law enforcement and fled — but not before agents identified and tracked him down. He was arrested on March 10 and has remained in custody ever since. Federal prosecutors proved he knew the act was illegal, undermining any claim of misunderstanding.

On June 24, Montelongo pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to sexually exploit a minor. U.S. District Judge Randy Crane handed down a 120-month federal prison sentence, emphasizing the gravity and duration of the criminal behavior. Crane called the offense serious and deliberate, not a momentary lapse in judgment.

Following his prison term, Montelongo will serve five years of supervised release under strict conditions limiting his access to children. He will also be required to register as a sex offender for life, a designation that carries lasting consequences for housing, employment, and public visibility.

The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations – Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Investigations Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Mitchell prosecuted the case under Project Safe Childhood, a DOJ initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. The program unites federal, state, and local agencies to track down predators and rescue victims — with Montelongo now listed among those brought to justice.

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