Gary Joseph Vincent, Receiving Child Pornography from Minor, Louisiana

Youngsville resident Gary Joseph Vincent, 25, has entered a guilty plea in federal court for receiving sexually explicit images from a minor, officials announced.

The case marks another victory for Project Safe Childhood, the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Vincent admitted to obtaining explicit material from an underage female on December 17, 2015, and attempted to arrange her travel to Louisiana before law enforcement intervention.

‘Vincent faces serious penalties for his actions, including a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years and a fine reaching $250,000,’ said Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna accepted Vincent’s guilty plea, which will be finalized when approved by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. The investigation was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Louisiana State Police, and Chatham Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Luke Walker and Dominic Rossetti handling the prosecution.

Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet. For more information or to report suspicious activity, the public is encouraged to call (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at www.ice.gov.

‘The safety of our children is paramount, and we will continue to use all available resources to protect them from predators,’ Van Hook concluded.

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