NEW ORLEANS - United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that ANDREW J. SMITH (“SMITH"), age 22, of Kenner, Louisiana, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 15, 2019, and charged with Possession of Child Pornography. SMITH was arrested by Special Agents with Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI") on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019. SMITH appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dana M. Douglas, who detained him pending a detention hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019.
According to the Indictment, SMITH knowingly possessed pre-pubescent images and videos depicting the sexual victimization of children and those illegal depictions were found on SMITH’s LG phone.
U. S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that the Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, SMITH faces maximum penalty up to twenty (20) 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 Strasser praised the work of the U. S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, the Kenner Police Department, and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Supervisor of the Financial Crimes Unit, Assistant U. S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
