Covington Man Charged with Child Sex Abuse Materials

A Covington man has been charged with producing and possessing child sex abuse materials, federal authorities announced today.

Keith Thomas Chandler, 54, of Covington, Louisiana, was indicted on two counts of Production of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors and Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Chandler faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years, as well as a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain to the defendant, if convicted. He also faces a term of supervised release of no less than 5 years and up to life.

The indictment alleges that Chandler produced and possessed child sex abuse materials, including pre-pubescent child pornography, at his residence in Covington. The investigation was launched after a complaint was filed with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

On April 29, 2024, Homeland Security Investigations special agents, along with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, executed a federal search warrant at Chandler’s residence and arrested him for production of child pornography and possession of pre-pubescent child pornography. Chandler has been in custody since his arrest.

The case is being handled as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the assistance of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the St Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation with this matter.

The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.

The indictment is merely a charge, and Chandler’s guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, according to U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

The Department of Justice urges anyone with information about child sex abuse to report it to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST or online at www.missingkids.org or www.cybertip.org.