New Orleans, Louisiana - A New Orleans man has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of possessing images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children under the age of 12, following an investigation by Louisiana authorities. Ervin Dalvecchio Cooper, 24, of New Orleans, Louisiana, entered his plea on July 31, 2025, before United States District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, admitting to violating 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B), a federal law addressing child sexual exploitation offenses.

According to court documents, the case began in February 2022 when the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI) received reports that a known username had uploaded multiple files containing images of child sexual abuse using a multimedia instant messaging app. Investigators traced the activity to Cooper, confirming he used the app to transmit these files. A court-authorized search of Cooper’s residence in May 2022 led to the seizure of several electronic devices, including a cell phone and a computer. A forensic review revealed at least 1,005 images and videos of child sexual abuse, some portraying victims as young as two years old. Many files included depictions of sadistic or violent acts.

Cooper faces up to 20 years in prison, mandatory registration as a sex offender, a fine of up to $250,000, a $100 special assessment fee, and between five years and a lifetime of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for October 30, 2025.

The case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation. The project brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children online. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, is leading the prosecution, with law enforcement officials commending the LBI for its investigative work.