Louisiana Man and Woman Sentenced to 28 Years Combined for Producing and Distributing Child Pornography

Louisiana – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced on June 23, 2022, that two defendants from Louisiana involved in the production and distribution of child pornography had been sentenced by United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays.

Dustin Patrick Wyble, 37, of Sunset, Louisiana, received a 240-month (20-year) prison sentence. Katie-Sue Fory Walz, 33, of Sunset, Louisiana, was sentenced to 96 months in prison (8 years). Wyble and Walz were both ordered to make a $6,000 restitution payment. They will be released from prison after 15 years of supervised release. In addition, both defendants were ordered to register as sex offenders.

According to evidence presented in court, Wyble began communicating with an undercover agent in February 2020 via the internet chat application KIK. Wyble provided images of a prepubescent child exposing their private parts during these chats. Law enforcement agents were able to determine Wyble’s location through their investigation and went to his home to speak with him. Wyble eventually admitted to using KIK to send child pornographic images to other users.

Agents obtained a search warrant for Wyble’s home and seized several electronic devices that Wyble admitted were used to send images via the KIK application. A forensic examination of the devices revealed that Wyble used the devices to store numerous child pornographic images and used his KIK account to administer group chats in which users shared child pornographic images. The investigation also revealed that Wyble and Walz created some of the recovered images.

The FBI, Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and Louisiana State Police investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Myers P. Namie and Robert C. Abendroth.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative led by the United States Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood, led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, combines federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. To learn more about Project Safe Childhood, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.