LaPlace man facing 6 counts of six counts of child pornography; other sex crimes
Published 3:44 pm Wednesday, May 4, 2016
LAPLACE — A local man was arrested this week, charged with possession of child pornography after being caught by an undercover FBI agent, authorities said.
St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office Deputies assisted FBI agents in arresting Matthew Vicknair, 30, of LaPlace. The arrest was made, without incident, at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Vicknair’s place of of employment in Reserve.
Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Angel Thompson said authorities are not releasing the name of Vicknair’s place of employment because it could discredit the business.
Sheriff Mike Tregre said the arrest was made after a lengthy federal investigation, involving the FBI New Orleans Division’s Violent Crimes Against Child/Human Trafficking Task Force.
Vicknair was charged by the St. John Parish District Attorney’s Office with six counts of possession of child pornography under the age of 13.
According to the FBI, the investigation began in 2014.
In undercover chat sessions, authorities said, Vicknair engaged in conversations with an undercover FBI agent while attempting to facilitate sexual acts with a minor over the Internet.
The child pornography that Vicknair was in possession of was a combination of videos and photographs, authorities said.
Information provided by the Homeland Security Investigations and the Adams County, Penn., District Attorney’s Office helped with the arrest. Vicknair is being held in lied of a $600,000 bond.