Robert Anthony Marsh Jr., a 60-year-old Metairie resident, has entered a guilty plea to charges of possessing materials that sexually exploit minors and of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Having plead guilty on August 26, Marsh is now facing a minimum of ten years to a maximum of twenty years in prison for the child exploitation charges, as well as a possible fifteen-year term for the gun possession violation. These charges carry fines that could reach up to $250,000, along with supervised release periods. On the fateful day of December 19, 2024, law enforcement discovered over 21 videos containing child sexual abuse material following a search of Marsh's home.
When the search was conducted, Marsh was already under supervised release for a related 2014 conviction for pornography involving juveniles. Alongside the disturbing media, officers found a Model 922 H&R Arms Co. firearm, illegal for Marsh to possess, given his felon status. After his initial arrest by the Louisiana State Probation and Parole, Marsh was turned over to federal custody to face the stated federal charges. The U.S. Attorney's Office shared that Marsh's sentencing is set for November 18 before United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative started in May 2006 aimed at curbing the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program brings together resources at the federal, state, and local levels to effectively tackle the issue and to locate and prosecute offenders while also rescuing victims. For anyone looking for more information about the initiative, details can be found at the Project Safe Childhood website.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson has recognized the collaborative efforts of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Jefferson Parish Police Department; and the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, Probation and Parole in addressing cases like Marsh's. Assisting in the prosecution is Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, the coordinator for Project Safe Childhood and Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit, having worked diligently to bring Marsh to justice for these deeply troubling crimes. With these efforts, and others like them, the hope remains that steps are being taken to protect our most vulnerable and to hold those accountable who would do them harm.
