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Operation Broken Heart Produces 63 Arrests for Child Exploitation

AG Jeff Landry Praises Law Enforcement, Encourages Parental Vigilance

BATON ROUGE, LA – Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry joined federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to announce the success of Operation Broken Heart – a two-month initiative to identify, apprehend, and prosecute those who produce, distribute, receive and possess child pornography; engage in online enticement of children for sexual purposes; engage in the sex trafficking of children; and travel across state lines or to foreign countries and sexually abuse children.

“Sexual exploitation of kids is gut-wrenching and involves unspeakable things that would shock the conscience of every one,” said General Landry. “Operation Broken Heart sends a powerful message to predators across the country – law enforcement will find you and we will protect Louisiana’s children.”

The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) is a national network of more than 4,500 federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. Alongside the ICAC taskforce, General Landry’s Louisiana Bureau of Investigation made 63 arrests between April 1st and May 31st for Internet crimes against children. These 45 suspects were charged for crimes associated with sexual abuse images and videos of children under the age of 13.

“The efforts and results of this operation are real and long-lasting,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge of New Orleans Eric Rommal. “Whether it is the FBI, the Attorney General's Office, or many of our partners - we will continue to help those who cannot protect themselves.” 

“Our children are our most valuable assets. We must work together to protect them,” said Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard. “This Operation is a great example of the collaborative effort in place to help protect the innocent.”

“Our dangers are as close as a thumbstoke to our children,” added Morgan City Police Chief James Blair. “The more we can prevent and educate the public, the better we will be as a society.”

“Operation Broken Heart is also a reminder of how dangerous the Internet can be and how important it is for parents and guardians to be aware of what your children are doing and with whom they are communicating,” concluded General Landry. “I encourage all to check out our office’s Be Smart With Your Smartphone brochure.”

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Those arrested and their charges are as follows: Jeremy Clinton Richard – 1 count distribution, 65 counts possession; Chandler Johnson – 40 counts possession; Nery Wilfredo Lopez Alvarado – 1 count distribution; James Cody Naquin – 4 counts possession; 
Zachary J. Dusang – 3 counts possession; Josiah Z. Chambers – 500 counts possession; Scott Charles Gaskill – 6 counts possession; Joseph Powell Boatman – fugitive from State of Texas for online solicitation of a minor; Daniel Joseph Looper – 100 counts possession; Adrian Danos – 53 counts possession; Miguel Angel Fiallos Martinez – 300 counts possession; Brian Pool – 96 counts possession, 2 counts obstruction of justice; Mark Williamson – 8 counts possession; Jonathan Arthur Moyer – 10 counts distribution; Ezra Paul West – 220 counts possession; Daniel F. Hardy II – 500 counts possession; Isiah Blanchard – indecent behavior with juvenile, computer aided solicitation of a minor; Byron Curtis Smith – 100 counts possession; Christopher Chambers – 9 counts possession; Brian David Lbemoine – 500 counts distribution; Paul Thompson – 10 counts possession; David Wayne Oneal – 19 counts possession; Derek Naquin – 47 counts possession; Duane David Reicks – 2 counts possession; Jennings “Jay” Bernard III – 5 counts possession; Michael Ryan Heape – 25 counts possession; Terry Scott Cepowski – 5 counts possession; Christopher Istre – 6 counts possession; Caleb Hickman – 50 counts possession; Jack Vincent Jameson – 170 counts possession; Travis Shane Ryan – 5 counts possession, indecent behavior with juveniles, computer aided solicitation of a minor; Jessie Comeaux – 5 counts possession; Jared Tyler Olivier – 25 counts possession; Kenny Ray Leday – 5 counts possession; Bonnie Magnon – 10 counts possession, 3 counts distribution; Roy Mouton – 3 counts distribution; Chad Edward Lassalle – 3 counts possession; Mark Evans – 3 counts possession; Jimmy Lee Jackson – 6 counts possession; Roy Lee Mclean – 1 count possession; Patrick J. Manuel – 6 counts possession; Johnny Schalk – 50 counts possession, 2 counts sexual abuse of an animal;&