News Releases

Louisiana man indicted for sexual exploitation of children

NEW ORLEANS - Daniel Daigle, 42, of Thibodaux, La., was indicted by a federal grand jury in New Orleans for crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

According to the indictment, Daigle knowingly distributed, received and possessed images of child pornography. He was charged with distributing sexually explicit images of children through the use of the Internet.

Specifically, the indictment alleges Daigle uploaded images of child pornography while using various websites. In addition, Daigle is charged with receiving and possessing images of child pornography that were found during the execution of a federal search warrant on March 30 by ICE special agents.

If convicted, Daigle faces a maximum penalty of 40 years with a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison, followed by up to a lifetime term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and can be required to register as a sex offender. Daigle was previously convicted of carnal knowledge of a juvenile on or about Nov. 10, 1997, and therefore, faces an enhanced sentence if convicted.

"Too many children are victimized by predators that target the most vulnerable among us - our children," said Raymond R. Parmer Jr., special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in New Orleans. "ICE is committed to apprehending and presenting for prosecution cases involving those who abuse our children and endanger their lives and well-being. We will continue working with federal, state and local agencies to ensure that those who try to hurt children are brought to justice."

This case was part of Operation Predator, which is a nationwide ICE initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders, and child sex traffickers. Since Operation Predator was launched in July 2003, ICE agents have arrested almost 12,800 individuals.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.

The prosecution is being handled by Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba.