U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the sentencing of Joy Joseph Banerjee, a 57-year-old resident of New Orleans, for possession of prepubescent child pornography. The sentence was handed down on January 28, 2025, following Banerjee's violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4)(b). He received a prison term of sixty months.

The investigation began with an online probe into child sexual abuse material by the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) took over and executed a federal search warrant at Banerjee’s home in April 2023. HSI found that Banerjee knowingly possessed images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of prepubescent minors.

United States District Judge Susie Morgan sentenced Banerjee to five years in prison and imposed eight years of supervised release. Additionally, he is required to pay a special assessment fee of $5,100.

This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local resources to locate and prosecute offenders while rescuing victims.

U.S. Attorney Evans commended the efforts of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Investigations; the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office; and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation for their roles in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba is handling prosecution as part of his duties as Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Chief of Financial Crimes Unit.