Raceland Man Charged with the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Possession of Child Pornography

Johnny Smith, age 41, a resident of Raceland, Louisiana, was charged today in a two-count bill of information with the sexual exploitation of children and possessing images depicting the sexual victimization of children under the age of 12 years old, announced United States Attorney Dana J. Boente.

According to the bill of information, between May 12, 2013 and June 23, 2013, Smith coerced a 3-year-old girl to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. Furthermore, Smith was charged with knowingly possessing visual depictions of children under the age of 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

f convicted, Smith faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years as to count one and a maximum of 20 years as to count two, 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 bill of information 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.