New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography

Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that GRADY W. CLARK, III, age 38, of New Orleans, pled guilty today to possession of child pornography.

According to court documents, special agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) executed a federal search warrant at CLARK’S New Orleans residence on January 20, 2017. During the search, HSI agents seized numerous electronic items, including a computer thumb drive that contained over 1,800 images depicting the sexual victimization of prepubescent children. CLARK was arrested by HSI agents during the execution of the search warrant and appeared in federal court where he was detained by a United States Magistrate Judge.

Court records reveal that CLARK was previously convicted on October 30, 2012, in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court for pornography involving juveniles. Due to his prior conviction, CLARK faces a mandatory minimum penalty of ten years imprisonment up to twenty years, followed by up to a life term of supervised release, sex offender registration, and a $250,000 fine. U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk set sentencing for July 27, 2017.

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."

Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U. S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Louisiana State Police, New Orleans Police Department, and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation 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.