Lake Charles Man Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Receiving Child Pornography

LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that David Shelton, 35, of Lake Charles, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi to 20 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for receiving child pornography.
           
According to the evidence presented at the guilty plea and sentencing, authorities detected the defendant using the E-Mule file sharing program to download child pornography. A search of his home was conducted July 12, 2012. Federal agents discovered approximately 80 movies and 1,292 images of child pornography that had been downloaded by the defendant to his computer. Most of the images were of children about 9 years of age. Some of the images were sadistic prepubescent child pornography.  Shelton pleaded guilty on April 11, 2013.

“The individual in this case used his computer to download images of abused children,” Finley said.  “His actions contributed to a worldwide trade of such material. Our office will not stop prosecuting those who download images and videos depicting abuse of children. This case should send a clear message that there are serious consequences for this type of criminal activity.”

“Child pornography distributors enable the re-victimization of innocent children who have already experienced horrific abuse,” said Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Raymond R. Parmer, Jr. “These predators do severe damage to our society, and HSI will continue to investigate and seek prosecution wherever these criminals may be found.”

Homeland Security Investigations and the Lake Charles Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Luke Walker prosecuted the case.

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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations/Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) DHS-2ICE.  Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls. Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp.