U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that STEVEN GAETA, age 41, of Kenner, was sentenced today for crimes involving the possession of child pornography.
According to court records, on Nov. 25, 2014, special agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI") executed a federal search warrant at GAETA’s Kenner home. HSI agents determined Gaeta used Peer to Peer file sharing programs to possess approximately 120 videos and 500 images depicting the sexual victimization of children. GAETA pled guilty to the charge on Aug. 19, 2015.
U.S. District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt sentenced GAETA to 78 months incarceration, to be followed by five years of supervised release. GAETA is also required to register as a sex offender pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Notification Act.
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. Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Fraud Unit Chief, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba was in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
