U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans | U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans has announced the sentencing of Christopher Michael Sommers, a 42-year-old resident of Slidell, Louisiana, for possession of materials involving the sexual exploitation of minors. The sentencing took place on December 18, 2024, with United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo imposing a ten-year prison term followed by fifteen years of supervised release and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
The case against Sommers included a sentencing enhancement due to his previous conviction on December 13, 2011, for receipt of child pornography in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
According to court documents, Sommers was identified during an undercover online investigation by the Apache Junction Police Department in Arizona. This investigation targeted individuals sharing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Consequently, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, together with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, executed a federal search warrant at Sommers's residence in Slidell on April 3, 2024. During this search, authorities found a Samsung USB thumb drive containing 950 images and videos depicting the sexual victimization of minors.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. This project involves collaboration among U.S. Attorney’s Offices and various sections within the Criminal Division to locate and prosecute offenders while identifying and rescuing victims.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office recognized contributions from several agencies including Homeland Security Investigations; St Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office; Apache Junction Police Department; and Louisiana Bureau of Investigation in handling this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba is overseeing prosecution efforts as Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.
For further information about Project Safe Childhood initiatives or related resources visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
