ST. AMANT MAN CHARGED WITH INTERSTATE TRANSMISSION OF EXTORTIONATE COMMUNICATION, COERCION AND ENTICEMENT OF A MINOR, PRODUCTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, AND POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

United States Attorney Kurt L. Wall announced that a federal grand jury recently returned a five-count indictment charging Dakota Hudson, age 20, of St. Amant, Louisiana, with interstate transmission of extortionate communication, coercion and enticement of a minor, production of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. Hudson pled not guilty to the pending charges.

According to the Indictment, on or about January 15, 2024, Hudson knowingly, with the intent to extort from another person anything of value, communicated a threat to injure Minor Victim 1.

The Indictment also alleges that from July 1, 2024, and continuing to an exact date unknown, but at least until about May 12, 2025, Hudson knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced Minor Victim 2 to engage in sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense. On two different occasions in August and September 2024, Hudson knowingly employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced Minor Victim 2 to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. Lastly, the Indictment alleges that Hudson knowingly possessed material that contained images of child pornography on or about June 20, 2025.

If convicted, Hudson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the interstate transmission of extortionate communication charge, a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison on each charge of production of child pornography, and a maximum penalty of life in prison on the coercion and enticement of a minor charge. Hudson also faces mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years in prison on the coercion and enticement of a minor charge and 15 years in prison on each charge of production of child pornography. Each offense also carries a fine of up to $250,000 and significant periods of supervised release.

"This case is just the latest example of the FBI’s efforts to root out predators who prey on our nation’s children through gaming apps and social media,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “The FBI encourages parents to closely monitor the online activity of their children and be aware of warning signs of potentially sinister activity.”

This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Anderson.

The Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. The nationwide crackdown resulted in over 205 child victims being located and the arrests of over 293 child sexual abuse offenders. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of two weeks by all 56 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorneys’ offices around the country.

“We will not allow evil criminals who prey on children to evade justice,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Our federal agents have worked tirelessly alongside our state and local partners to track down these vile predators, and now our prosecutors will ensure they receive severe punishments to match their horrific crimes.”

“Operation Relentless Justice shows no child will be forgotten and that all predators targeting the most vulnerable amongst us will be held accountable,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This year, the FBI has led multiple nationwide surges across the U.S. to find and arrest hundreds of child predators. We will not stop until every child can live a life free of exploitation. We will utilize the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state, and local partners to protect communities across the nation from such horrific crimes.”

Those arrested as part of Operation Relentless Justice are alleged to have committed various crimes, including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material; online enticement and transportation of minors; and child sex trafficking. Some of the alleged offenders include an airman out of Dallas, TX, who was arrested with his wife for producing child sex abuse material (CSAM), as well as a Police Officer from Raleigh, NC, who distributed CSAM to an undercover officer while discussing his interest in engaging in sexual contact with children. In another case involving enticement of a minor, the Miami Field Office arrested a Guatemalan national who was previously deported in 2011, and had previous arrests for battery, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and carrying a concealed weapon.

This effort follows two other successful operations, including Operation Restore Justice in May, which resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders, and Operation Enduring Justice in August, which resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders.

The FBI’s Victim Services Division (VSD) assisted victims during this operation and provided services, to include forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD’s mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience.

These operations underscore the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. attorneys’ offices and 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, visit justice.gov/psc.

The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

The Department remains vigilant against the threat of Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) networks, like 764, that operate within the United States and around the globe. NVEs often target vulnerable individuals, including minors, using social media platforms to share CSAM and gore material, and groom victims toward committing acts of violence. Victims are often extorted, coerced, compelled, and blackmailed into complying with NVE demands, including self-mutilation, online and in-person sexual acts, harm to animals, sexual exploitation of siblings and others, acts of violence, threats of violence, suicide, and murder. For more information on how to protect children and others, read about the online risks here: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/parents-and-caregivers-protecting-your-kids, https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA250306

The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.