Gretna Man Keith Joseph McGee Charged with the Sexual Exploitation of Children

Keith Joseph McGee, age 29, of Gretna, Louisiana, was charged today in a three-count indictment by a federal grand jury for crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children, announced United States Attorney Dana J. Boente. McGee was charged with one count of attempting to coerce a minor to produce images of sexually explicit conduct, one count of receiving sexually explicit images of a 14-year-old boy, and one count of receiving sexually explicit images from a 15-year old boy.

McGee faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum penalty of 70 years, followed by up to a life term of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. He can also be required to register as a sex offender.

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

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.”

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