Kenneth Blake LeBlanc, a resident of Lake Charles, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges related to child pornography. The sentencing was announced by Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. issued the sentence of 180 months, followed by 15 years of supervised release.
LeBlanc's arrest in April 2024 followed a complaint received by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office regarding his actions involving a minor. It was discovered that LeBlanc had recorded a prepubescent minor undressing in a bathroom using a hidden cell phone. This video, which captured explicit images of the minor, who was under 11 years old at the time, was transferred by LeBlanc from his Android phone to an iPhone via the internet, knowing the content included child pornography.
LeBlanc entered a guilty plea to charges specified in a Bill of Information concerning one count of attempted transportation of child pornography.
The investigation was carried out by Homeland Security Investigations, part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren L. Gardner.
This case is one of many under Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. This initiative involves collaboration between federal, state, and local resources to apprehend individuals exploiting children via the internet and to rescue the victims. More information can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Efforts to report incidents of child pornography, termed legally as "child sexual abuse material," are ongoing. These materials document the abuse and exploitation of children, leading to their re-victimization. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reported 36 million cases related to such offenses. Reports can be filed with NCMEC at https://report.cybertip.org or by calling 1-800-843-5678.