Houma Predator Chauvin Gets 7 Years for Child Porn

HOUMA, LA – Michael Chauvin, 31, of Houma, Louisiana, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 84 months – seven years – for possessing horrific images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt following Chauvin’s guilty plea to a one-count indictment.

Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the sentencing, detailing a case rooted in a search warrant executed at Chauvin’s residence on August 7, 2015. Law enforcement seized a disturbing array of electronic devices: a laptop, a smartphone, four external hard drives, and two thumb drives. A forensic examination quickly revealed the grim truth – these devices were overflowing with child pornography.

The evidence painted a sickening picture. Investigators found approximately 1,354 images and 779 videos of prepubescent children, some as young as two years old, engaged in sexually explicit acts. Chauvin wasn’t merely stumbling upon this material; he was actively seeking it out, using a peer-to-peer file sharing program to download and save the depraved content. This wasn’t passive viewing, it was active collection.

Beyond the prison sentence, Chauvin will face six years of supervised release following his incarceration. Crucially, he’s also been ordered to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, a necessary measure to protect the community. A hearing to determine restitution for any potential victims is scheduled for June 28, 2017.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the escalating epidemic of child sexual exploitation. The project brings together federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute predators who exploit children online, and to rescue victims. Information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg and Special Assistant United States Attorney J. Ryan McLaren were responsible for the prosecution. This case serves as a grim reminder of the dark corners of the internet and the tireless work of law enforcement to bring predators like Michael Chauvin to justice.