Anthony T. Kurtz, Child Porn Distribution, LA 2023

BATON ROUGE, LA – Anthony T. Kurtz, 42, of Livingston, Louisiana, will spend the next 25 years of his life behind bars after being sentenced yesterday for distributing child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge John W. DeGravelles handed down the 300-month sentence, a clear message that the exploitation of children will not be tolerated.

Kurtz pled guilty on February 18, 2016, to one count of distribution of child pornography, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(2)(A). But this wasn’t a first offense. The court took note of Kurtz’s prior convictions for sexual assault and indecent assault in another state, triggering a statutory sentencing enhancement that added to his already substantial punishment. He’s proven time and again he’s a danger to the vulnerable.

Beyond imprisonment, Kurtz was ordered to pay $19,500 in restitution to the victims depicted in the horrific images he spread. While no amount of money can undo the harm inflicted, it’s a small measure of accountability. The court also imposed ten years of supervised release following his prison term, a continued attempt to monitor his behavior.

Acting United States Attorney Corey Amundson didn’t mince words. “Childhood is a period of dependence and vulnerability. Those who exploit the helplessness of young children by distributing images of them being sexually abused reveal the depths of human depravity,” he stated. “The defendant was already a convicted felon and child sex offender when he began distributing these images. He earned every bit of the severe sentence he received yesterday. Protecting children is among the most solemn of a society’s responsibilities, and it remains a top priority of this office.”

Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge for ICE-HSI, echoed those sentiments. “Child pornography is one of the most heinous crimes HSI investigates due to the irrevocable harm it inflicts physically and emotionally upon innocent children,” Parmer said. “This crime is an outrage in all cases; however, in this instance especially, the depravity of these illegal images was so extreme that the public should breathe a sigh of relief that this subject is now safely behind bars due to the incredible partnership between HSI and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners across Louisiana.”

The case was a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office – Cyber Crime Unit, and the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan R. Crosswell prosecuted the case, ensuring that justice, however delayed, was served. This conviction sends a message: those who prey on children will be relentlessly pursued and brought to account.