KC man charged in child porn indictment following victim’s death

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, a man from Kansas City, Missouri has been indicted by a federal grand jury for producing child pornography.

Court records show that Leonardo Leon, 25, is being charged in a two-count indictment by a federal jury in Kansas City, Mo. The indictment replaces a federal complaint filed against Leon on October 14, 2024.

The indictment claims that Leon used a minor victim to produce child pornography from August 1 to September 2, 2024. Additionally, the indictment alleges that Leon was also distributing child pornography.

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According to an affidavit filed, which supported the original criminal complaint, officers were dispatched to Children's Mercy Hospital after midnight on September 3, 2024 where a 15-year-old victim suffered a fatal drug overdose.

By communicating with the child victim's friend, officers learned that Leon was engaging in sexual activity with the victim and, about a week before the victim's death, had sent her a video of them having sex.

Investigators searched Leon's Instagram account according to the affidavit; they found three clips he had sent to the witness of himself with the child victim.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative that began in May of 2006 to combat child exploitation and abuse.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth W. Borgino and was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department.