New Orleans, Louisiana - Four Men Face Federal Charges for Child Pornography
(U.S. DOJ) Steven L. Johnson, 56, of Covington, Louisiana, and Michael Larrieu, 18, of Gretna, Louisiana, were indicted by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in New Orleans, for crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to the indictment, Johnson knowingly received and possessed images of child pornography that he obtained over the internet. FBI agents executed a federal search warrant on his Covington residence on March 12, 2007. Johnson is charged with possessing both computer files and hardware that allegedly contained images of child pornography and images from his home computer. An arrest warrant was signed by a U. S. District Magistrate Judge and the FBI is actively looking for Johnson.
Michael Larrieu, who was also indicted, is charged with one count of Possession of Child Pornography. According to the indictment, during the execution of a federal search warrant by FBI agents on October 11, 2006, Larrieu was found in possession of computers and other computer media that allegedly contained visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Recently, two other defendants were charged with federal crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children and the proliferation of child pornography. They are Jerry Lucas, age 41, of New Orleans and James Rutkofske, age 40, formerly of New Orleans.
Lucas, who was indicted on February 22, 2007 for production and possession of child pornography, was arrested by FBI agents on February 15, 2007. Lucas remains in federal custody awaiting trial which is scheduled for April 23, 2007.
Further, on March 6, 2007, James Rutkofske pled guilty to Possession of Child Pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5, 2007 by United States District Judge Jay C. Zainey. Rutkofske was charged after he was found in possession of child pornography by FBI agents who responded to a tip from a local computer store. FBI agents subsequently obtained federal search warrants and seized Rutkofske’s computer and other computer media that was found to contain images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors.
If convicted, Johnson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five (5) years imprisonment a maximum of twenty (20) on the Receipt of Child Pornography charge. Lucas faces a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen (15) years in federal prison. Johnson, Larrieu, Lucas, and Rutkofske can be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of up to ten (10) years on the Possession of Child Pornography counts. All four defendants face a life term of supervised release, sex offender registration, and are required to provide DNA samples to authorities.
U. S. Attorney Letten reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
These prosecutions are being handled by Project Safe Childhood Coordinator, Assistant U. S. Attorney Brian Klebba.
Retrieved March 27, 2007 from http://nyjtimes.com/Stories/2007/25YearsForChildProstitution.htm
According to the indictment, Johnson knowingly received and possessed images of child pornography that he obtained over the internet. FBI agents executed a federal search warrant on his Covington residence on March 12, 2007. Johnson is charged with possessing both computer files and hardware that allegedly contained images of child pornography and images from his home computer. An arrest warrant was signed by a U. S. District Magistrate Judge and the FBI is actively looking for Johnson.
Michael Larrieu, who was also indicted, is charged with one count of Possession of Child Pornography. According to the indictment, during the execution of a federal search warrant by FBI agents on October 11, 2006, Larrieu was found in possession of computers and other computer media that allegedly contained visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Recently, two other defendants were charged with federal crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children and the proliferation of child pornography. They are Jerry Lucas, age 41, of New Orleans and James Rutkofske, age 40, formerly of New Orleans.
Lucas, who was indicted on February 22, 2007 for production and possession of child pornography, was arrested by FBI agents on February 15, 2007. Lucas remains in federal custody awaiting trial which is scheduled for April 23, 2007.
Further, on March 6, 2007, James Rutkofske pled guilty to Possession of Child Pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5, 2007 by United States District Judge Jay C. Zainey. Rutkofske was charged after he was found in possession of child pornography by FBI agents who responded to a tip from a local computer store. FBI agents subsequently obtained federal search warrants and seized Rutkofske’s computer and other computer media that was found to contain images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors.
If convicted, Johnson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five (5) years imprisonment a maximum of twenty (20) on the Receipt of Child Pornography charge. Lucas faces a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen (15) years in federal prison. Johnson, Larrieu, Lucas, and Rutkofske can be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of up to ten (10) years on the Possession of Child Pornography counts. All four defendants face a life term of supervised release, sex offender registration, and are required to provide DNA samples to authorities.
U. S. Attorney Letten reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
These prosecutions are being handled by Project Safe Childhood Coordinator, Assistant U. S. Attorney Brian Klebba.
Retrieved March 27, 2007 from http://nyjtimes.com/Stories/2007/25YearsForChildProstitution.htm