Norco Man Arrested and Charged with Receipt of Child Pornography

NEW ORLEANS—JASON LONG, age 35, a resident of Norco, Louisiana, was taken into federal custody today for crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten. A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment on March 1, 2011, and it was sealed until LONG was arrested earlier today.

According to the indictment, LONG knowingly received and possessed digital images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors. If convicted, LONG faces a maximum penalty of 30 years, followed by up to a life term of supervised release, and a $500,000 fine. He can also be required to register as a sex offender.

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.”

United States Attorney Letten reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg.