Emery Weyland Graham, Child Pornography Attempt, Louisiana 2013

LAFAYETTE, La. - A Texas man was sentenced to 188 months in prison for attempting to produce child pornography in Louisiana, according to a recent sentencing.

Emery Weyland Graham, 43, of Longview, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to 188 months in prison for attempting to produce child pornography. Graham is also required to complete 10 years of supervised release and register as a sex offender. Graham pleaded guilty on Feb. 19, 2013.

According to the evidence presented at the guilty plea, the Youngsville Police Department received a complaint on Sept. 13, 2011 from a mother that her daughter had been sent sexually explicit messages by a 41-year-old man using a cell phone. Police confiscated the phone, and an undercover officer posed as the 13-year-old girl, through texts, to continue communication with Graham. Graham sent sexually explicit messages about sexual acts that he wanted to perform on the girl and asked the girl to send him sexually explicit images of herself. He instructed the minor on how to take the pictures and provided details of the images he wanted.

Graham was arrested on Oct. 5, 2011. “Prosecuting internet predators is a top priority for the U.S. Attorney's Office,” said U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley. “This sentence should send the message that there are serious consequences for attempting to exploit children. Predators who seek to rob the innocence of children will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Youngsville Police Department, the Louisiana State Police, and the Texas Rangers, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Myers P. Namie.

The U.S. Attorney's Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations/Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) encourage the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) DHS-2ICE. Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp and to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. Tips may be submitted anonymously.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Mandatory facts: Defendant/Respondent: Emery Weyland Graham; Exact criminal charges: Attempting to produce child pornography; City and State: Lafayette, Louisiana; Exact date: October 5, 2011; Sentence or outcome: 188 months in prison; Supervised release: 10 years.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdla/pr/texas-man-sentenced-188-months-prison-attempting-produce-child-pornography