U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that JAMIE PLAISANCE, age 38, of Raceland, was indicted today for possession of child pornography.
On March 16, 2015, special agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, arrested PLAISANCE during the execution of a federal search warrant at his Raceland home. Agents found that PLAISANCE was in possession of several items, including an Apple I-Touch and cellular phones that contained images depicting the sexual victimization of prepubescent children. PLAISANCE appeared in federal court on March 17, 2015, and was detained by a United States Magistrate Judge.
Court records also revealed that PLAISANCE has a prior federal conviction for possession of child pornography.
U. S. Attorney Polite reiterated that the Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Due to his prior conviction, if convicted, PLAISANCE faces a mandatory minimum penalty of ten years imprisonment up to twenty years, followed by up to a life term of supervised release, and a $250,000.00 fine.
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."
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Fraud Unit Chief, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba is in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
