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April 24, 2023New Orleans, LA, United StatesChild Exploitation

Louisiana man pleads guilty to child exploitation

NEW ORLEANS — Following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baton Rouge, a Morganza resident pled guilty to production and attempted production of child pornography April 21.

Norman Antoine LeBlanc, age 34, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles to production and attempted production of child pornography. As a result of his conviction, LeBlanc faces imprisonment, fines and a period of supervised release that includes sex offender registration.

According to the indictment, on or about Nov. 17, 2021, LeBlanc produced and attempted to produce videos and images that depicted a minor child engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Leblanc recorded a video of the minor in the bathroom and intentionally made still shots from the video that focused and zoomed in on the minor’s genitals. In creating these images, LeBlanc intended to produce child pornography and to depict a minor child engaged in lascivious exhibition of their genitals and pubic area. LeBlanc knowingly used a mobile application and a smartphone to transmit the visual depictions of the minor via the internet to an undercover agent in North Carolina.

HSI Baton Rouge; the North Carolina Bureau of Investigations; the Boone, North Carolina Police Department; and the Office of Inspector General investigated the matter. Assistant United States Attorney Edward H. Warner is prosecuting the case.

HSI takes a victim-centered approach to child exploitation investigations by working to identify, rescue and stabilize victims. HSI works in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), ICAC partners, and other federal, state, and local agencies to help solve cases and rescue sexually exploited children. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to NCMEC’s toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

HSI is a founding member of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.

HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free tip line at 866-347-2423, or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the United States and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users may call TTY 802-872-6196.

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