Harahan Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography

 NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that CHARLES A. LOPEZ (“LOPEZ”), age 28, of Harahan, Louisiana, pled guilty on June 30, 2021 to receipt of child pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1).

The case against LOPEZ developed as a result of an undercover child exploitation investigation conducted by special agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”). On April 30, 2019, HSI agents and special agents with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation executed a federal search warrant at LOPEZ’s Harahan home and determined LOPEZ received images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors.

LOPEZ faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five (5) years imprisonment up to twenty (20) years, followed by up to a life term of supervised release, a $250,000.00 fine, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing in this matter is scheduled for September 29, 2021, before United States District Judge Ivan L. R. Lemelle.

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 Evans praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Chief of Financial Crimes Unit, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba.