U.S. Attorney Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr. announced that a federal jury has convicted a Gretna man guilty of crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children.
KEITH JOSEPH MCGEE, age 30, of Gretna, Louisiana, was found guilty of all three counts with which he was charged, specifically: attempting to coerce a minor to produce images of sexually explicit conduct; receiving sexually explicit images of a 14-year-old boy; and receiving sexually explicit images from a 15-year old boy.
According to evidence introduced in trial, MCGEE, formerly a foreign language teacher at several Catholic high schools, posted numerous personal advertisements on an online classified advertisement website seeking sexual interactions with “young teens" and “Catholic high school boys." Additionally, between Jan. 29, 2013, and Feb. 11, 2013, MCGEE used e-mail, text messages, and several social media applications to correspond with two actual minors and an undercover FBI agent posing as a minor. During those correspondences, MCGEE confirmed that each person was a minor and then subsequently encouraged and enticed them to provide him with sexually explicit pictures. In addition to seeking sexually explicit pictures, MCGEE attempted to arrange sexual liaisons with the boys, including driving to the home of the 15-year-old boy at around 2:00 a.m. Additional trial evidence indicated that MCGEE had engaged in sexually explicit conversations and exchanged sexually explicit pictures with approximately six other minors who have not been identified.
MCGEE faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum penalty of 70 years, followed by up to a life term of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. He can also be required to register as a sex offender. Sentencing has been scheduled for Sept. 23, 2014, at 9:00 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources."
This case was investigated by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg and Patrice Harris Sullivan.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
