New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that JOY JOSEPH BANERJEE (“BANERJEE”), age 57, of New Orleans, pled guilty on July 18, 2024 to possession of prepubescent child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4)(b).  BANERJEE faces a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years imprisonment, and/or a fine of up to $250,000.00, or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person of the offense, under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571.  In addition, BANERJEE faces a term of supervised release of no less than five (5) years and up to life after his release from prison, as well as a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

According to court documents, the case against BANERJEE began with an online child sexual abuse material investigation by the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office.  Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), utilizing its special agents, then assumed the investigation and executed a federal search warrant at BANERJEE’s New Orleans home in April of 2023.  HSI’s investigation determined BANERJEE knowingly possessed images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of prepubescent minors.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 15, 2024 before United States District Judge Susie Morgan.

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 Attorney’s 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office; and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Chief of Financial Crimes Unit.