NEW ORLEANS, LA—U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that KEITH JOSEPH MCGEE, age 31, of Gretna, was sentenced today for various charges of sexual exploitation of children. In June 2014, a federal jury found MCGEE guilty of 3 counts, specifically: attempting to coerce a minor to produce images of sexually explicit conduct; receiving sexually explicit images of a 14-year-old boy; and receiving sexually explicit images from a 15-year old boy.

U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey sentenced MCGEE to 180 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release.

According to evidence introduced in trial, MCGEE, formerly a foreign language teacher at several Catholic high schools, posted numerous personal advertisements on an online classified advertisement website designed seeking sexual interactions with “young teens” and “Catholic high school boys.” Additionally, between January 29, 2013, and February 11, 2013, MCGEE corresponded with two actual minors and an undercover FBI agent posing as a minor by e-mail, text message, and on smartphone social media applications. During those correspondences, MCGEE confirmed that each person was a minor and then repeatedly encouraged and enticed them to provide him with sexually explicit pictures. In addition to seeking sexually explicit pictures, MCGEE attempted to arrange sexual liaisons with the boys, including driving to the home of the 15-year-old boy at around 2:00 a.m. Additionally, evidence introduced at trial indicated that MCGEE engaged in sexually explicit conversations and exchanged sexually explicit pictures with approximately six other minors who have not been identified.

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 Polite praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg and Patrice Harris Sullivan were in charge of the prosecution.