New Orleans Man Indicted for Possessing Child Pornography

Acting United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DAMIAN BARBARITO ROMERO, age 37, of New Orleans, was arrested yesterday after previously being indicted for one-count of possession of images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children under the age of twelve years old.

If convicted, ROMERO faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, followed by up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.  ROMERO can also be required to register as a sex offender.

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 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.

Acting United States Attorney Evans reiterated that the Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crimes Against Children Task force, which includes members of the Kenner Police Department in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg is in charge of the investigation.