Former assistant manager of Grand Theater sentenced in federal court on child pornography charges

LAFAYETTE, La. -- Daniel James Broussard, 22, of Tulsa, Okla., former assistant manager of the Grand Theater in Lafayette, was sentenced today in federal court to 40 years in prison and lifetime of supervised release for using a facility in interstate commerce attempting to coerce a minor to engage in criminal sexual acts.

The sentencing was a result of an investigation conducted by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Lafayette and Tulsa police departments. The sentence was imposed by U. S. District Judge Richard Haik.

Broussard pleaded guilty in September 2010 to charges that he used the Internet and text messaging from his cell phone to communicate with minor females. He would meet the minor females on Facebook and after his initial communication, he would then convince them to speak to him using a web camera and Skype. During the web camera communications, he would attempt to convince the minors to meet him to engage in sexual activities. He also asked them to expose themselves using the web camera while he watched.

Several of his Internet sessions included one where the defendant convinced a minor female who suffers from Asperger's Syndrome to engage in a sexual act while he watched using a web camera.

During the cell phone and text messaging conversations, Broussard discussed, in graphic terms with the minor females, the possibility of meeting them to engage in sexual activities. The defendant admitted that he had engaged in sexually explicit chats using a web camera and Skype with approximately 35 minor females. The defendant further admitted that he discussed meeting the minor females and asked them to take sexually explicit images of themselves.

At sentencing, Judge Haik stated that the defendant was a dangerous predator. He also stated that everyone in Acadiana, La., and in the rest of the country, should know that if individuals choose to exploit children in this manner, they should expect this same type of sentence.

"Protecting our children from individuals like this defendant who prey upon and sexually exploit children is a top priority for HSI", said Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., special agent in charge of ICE HSI in New Orleans. "Sexual predators should know that HSI will do everything in its power and use every tool at its disposal to keep our children safe - whether the potential victims are around the block or around the world." Parmer oversees a five-state area which includes Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee.

U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley stated, "Our office has made it a priority to work with our state, local and federal partners to prosecute predators who exploit and abuse children. This case should send a clear message that there are serious consequences for this type of criminal activity."

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Luke Walker.

For more information, visit www.ice.gov.