SHREVEPORT, La. - Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Shreveport man pleaded guilty Tuesday to receiving child pornography.
James Vail, 52, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to one count of receipt of child pornography. According to the guilty plea, Vail received images of pornography on his computer from Oct. 3, 2015 to June 4, 2015 at his home in Shreveport via an internet enabled electronic device. A forensic examination of his computer revealed numerous images of child pornography.
Vail faces five to 20 years in prison, five years to life of supervised release, mandatory registration as a sex offender, forfeiture of property seized during the investigation and a $250,000 fine. The court set the sentencing date for July 27, 2017.
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 combines 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. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) also encourage the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) 347-2423. Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls. Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online by visiting their website at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp or through the Operation Predator smartphone application www.ice.gov/predator/smartphone-app. Tips may be submitted anonymously.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
