CHATAIGNIER MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Ricky Johnson, 53, of Chataignier, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik to possession of child pornography. 

According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, in early 2010, a computer Johnson used was found to be downloading child pornography from a file sharing network online. In September of 2010, Johnson’s computer and other electronic devices were searched, and images and videos of child pornography were found. Johnson has a prior conviction for molestation of a juvenile. 

Johnson faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a lifetime of supervised release. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy is prosecuting the case. 

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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.projectsafechildhood.gov. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations/Immigration & Customs Enforcement 

(ICE) encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) DHS-2ICE. Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls. Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp. Tips may be submitted anonymously. 

Those concerned may also leave tips with the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. Tips may be submitted anonymously. The Lafayette FBI office number is (337) 233-2164.