A Youngsville man has entered a guilty plea in a federal case involving the possession of material related to the sexual exploitation of minors, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced earlier this week. Coy David Miller, 49, admitted to the charge on Wednesday, under laws that could see him facing a substantial prison sentence of up to 20 years, as well as heavy fines and lifetime supervision after release, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The conviction stems from an incident on October 17, 2023, when Miller was found in possession of explicit images and videos of pre-pubescent children, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. His apprehension was the result of a coordinated effort between U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and special agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, when Miller returned to the United States from Cancun, Mexico, through the Louis Armstrong International Airport. His sentencing is scheduled for January 15, 2025, before United States District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle.
Miller's case forms part of the ongoing Project Safe Childhood initiative—a program initiated in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to aggressively tackle the disturbing increase in child sexual exploitation and abuse. This nationwide effort combines the powers of various governmental entities to more efficiently pinpoint and prosecute internet-based exploitation, while also striving to rescue victims ensnared by these crimes, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The Justice Department also acknowledged the roles of Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in bringing Miller to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit, is handling the prosecution for this case, further demonstrating the weight that federal law enforcement places on the grave issue of child exploitation.
