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Press Release
NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that on February 6, 2024 MAX CORY JOHNSON, JR. (“JOHNSON”), age 21, of Harvey, pled guilty to Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2). JOHNSON faces up to twenty (20) years imprisonment, and/or up to a fine of $250,000.00, or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person of the offense. In addition, JOHNSON faces no less than five (5) years of supervised release and up to life, following release from prison.
According to court documents, the case against JOHNSON stemmed from an undercover online investigation that sought to identify those individuals who were sharing Child Sexual Abuse Material (“CSAM”). On July 20, 2023, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) special agents, and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies, executed a federal search warrant at JOHNSON’s residence in Harvey. JOHNSON confessed to agents that he both, possessed and saved, CSAM to his computer using a specialized network. Sentencing is scheduled for before United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s 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 would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Jefferson Parish Sherriff’s Office with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.
Shane M. Jones
Public Information Officer
United States Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana
United States Department of Justice