Stephen Badon, a 35-year-old resident of New Orleans, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced the sentence on May 19, 2025. U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey handed down the sentence after Badon pleaded guilty to charges related to child pornography under Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1). In addition to his prison term, Badon will face 25 years of supervised release and must pay $86,500 in restitution to victims along with a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
The case against Badon originated from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into online Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). On August 2, 2023, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Badon's home in New Orleans and seized four electronic devices containing over 88,000 files of CSAM material. Following this discovery, Badon was arrested by the FBI.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project involves collaboration between federal, state, and local resources to locate and prosecute offenders while identifying and rescuing victims.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson commended the efforts of the FBI in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot from the Narcotics Unit is prosecuting the case.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
