Louisiana Man Sentenced to 17+ Years for Enticing Teenage Boys in Multiple States to Create Sexually Explicit Images and Videos

Louisiana – On November 9, 2022, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Steve C. Mergey (“Mergey”), age 52, of Houma, Louisiana, was sentenced on November 8, 2022, for Production of Child Pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a) and (e).

According to court documents, the case against Mergey arose from a report to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ("HSI") Tip Line. On June 4, 2020, HSI agents executed a federal search warrant at Mergey's Houma, Louisiana residence. Mergey groomed and coerced young male victims as young as 10 years old living in Pennsylvania, New York, and Michigan to produce and submit sexually explicit photos of themselves to Mergey, according to HSI's investigation.

Mergey was sentenced to 210 months (17 years, 6 months) in prison, supervised release for life, and registration as a sex offender by U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter.

“The sentence is a gratifying outcome for the HSI special agents and law enforcement partners who are committed to protecting our nations’ innocense,” said Special Agent in Charge Dave Denton, HSI New Orleans. “We hope this serves as part of the healing process for the victims, and a reminder to those who harm children - HSI will not stop pursuing and bringing you to justice.”

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide campaign launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to tackle the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood, led by US Attorney's Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), marshals 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.

The US Attorney's Office would also like to thank the US Department of Homeland Security, Houma RAC and Pittsburg Office; Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office; Houma Police Department; Louisiana State Police, Criminal Investigative Division; and Oswego County Sheriff's Office, NY for their assistance with this matter. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.