I.C.E. News Release

March 11, 2010

Former ICE "Most Wanted" predator sentenced to 40 years in prison

LAKE CHARLES, La. - A Louisiana predator, who had been on the run, was sentenced in Lake Charles Louisiana March 11 to 40 years in prison, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Leesville Police Department (LPD).

Christopher Comeaux, 34, was indicted in August 2005 and fled from Louisiana to avoid prosecution. Comeaux, who had been added to the ICE "Most Wanted" fugitive list, was subsequently arrested in August 2009 near Houma, La.

He was found guilty on Dec. 8, 2009, of production and possession of child pornography. U. S. District Court Judge Patricia Minaldi sentenced Comeaux to 30 years for the production count and 10 years for the possession count to run consecutively. He was also ordered to a term of supervised release for life.

Comeaux was under investigation by the LPD for aggravated rape and aggravated incest involving a 10-year-old victim. A search warrant executed at Comeaux's residence resulted in the discovery of thousands of images of child pornography on his computer. Also discovered on Comeaux's computer were numerous images of Comeaux and a 10-year-old victim displaying sexually explicit conduct.

"This monster had caused irreparable harm to an innocent 10-year-old child," said Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., acting special agent in charge of ICE's Office of Investigations in New Orleans. "While we cannot undo the damage that he has done, the victim will at least live knowing that he will be locked up for a very long time. Predators who think that they will fly under the radar are mistaken. We're looking for you and will put you behind bars where you belong."

The investigation of this case was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to identify, investigate and arrest those who prey on children, including human traffickers, international sex tourists, Internet pornographers, and foreign-national predators whose crimes make them deportable. Launched in July 2003, ICE agents have arrested almost 12,000 individuals through Operation Predator.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-347-2423. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE comprises four integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423.

Last Modified: Monday, March 15, 2010
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/1003/100311lakecharles.htm