MICHAEL P. YAZIGI, age 27, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged today in a one count bill of information with possession of child pornography, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to court documents, on approximately February 12, 2009, YAZIGI was found to be in possession of a computer that contained images of child pornography. If convicted, YAZIGI faces a maximum penalty of not more than ten (10) years in prison, followed by up to a lifetime term of supervised release, a $250,000.00 fine, and be required to register as a sex offender.

This case was brought 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. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

U. S. Attorney Letten reiterated that a Bill of Information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case is being investigated by agents from the U. S. Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Matt Chester.

(Download Bill of Information )

 

 

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