Local Pizza Restaurant Owner Charged on Federal Child Exploitation Charges

St. Louis, MO – Loren Copp was charged in a criminal complaint alleging that he produced child pornography. He will appear for his initial appearance in federal court on Friday, April 8, 2016.

According to the affidavit filed with the criminal complaint, Copp owned and operated a business at 4601 Morganford Road, St. Louis, known as "Dojo Pizza."  After multiple complaints that minor females were living there, law enforcement obtained state and federal search warrants, which were executed between November and December 2015.  Multiple types of digital media were seized and analyzed and found to contain child pornography. 

If convicted, production of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000.  In determining the actual sentence, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.      

As is always the case, charges set forth in a criminal complaint are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty