A New Orleans man is facing serious charges related to the alleged exploitation of a minor. Mark Brooks, also known by the moniker "Baby Nu," aged 35, stands accused of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, in addition to attempted transmission of obscene matter to a minor. This follows an indictment issued last Thursday, presenting charges stemming from conduct allegedly occurring between May 1 and May 13, as revealed in a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The indictment specifies that Brooks attempted to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce what he believed was a fifteen-year-old female to engage in unspecified sexual activity, a prosecutable offense under 18 U.S.C. ' 2422(b). To further compound the charges, Brooks is also accused of having attempted to, by means of interstate commerce, to send obscene materials to a minor from May 1 to May 4. If convicted, Brooks is looking at a mandatory minimum of ten years and could face life imprisonment for the first count, and up to ten years for the second.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, these efforts come under the umbrella of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative focusing on addressing and curbing child sexual exploitation and abuse. Instituted in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, this program works to enhance the effectiveness of federal, state, and local authorities in prosecuting online child exploitation crimes.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson, whose office is overseeing the prosecution, noted that an indictment represents a formal accusation and that the defendant’s guilt must still be established through the legal process. The FBI and the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office were acknowledged for their key roles in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg will lead the case.
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