Press Release
Houma Man Indicted for Possession of Child Pornography
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana
NICHOLAS GARCIA (“GARCIA”), age 32, of Houma, Louisiana, was indicted today for possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.
On February 21, 2018, law enforcement officers with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation arrested GARCIA after finding that GARCIA was in possession of a Samsung Galaxy tablet that contained images and videos depicting the sexual victimization of prepubescent children.
Court records also revealed that GARCIA was previously convicted on December 14, 2009, in Terrebonne Parish Criminal District Court for indecent behavior with juveniles and was sentenced to five (5) years imprisonment.
U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Due to his prior conviction, if convicted, GARCIA faces a mandatory minimum penalty of ten (10) years imprisonment up to twenty (20) years, followed by up to a life term of supervised release, and a $250,000.00 fine. In addition, GARCIA will be required to register as a sex offender pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
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, the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, and Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Fraud Section Chief, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba.
Updated May 17, 2018
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