Former Erie Man Gets 23 Years in Prison for Producing Sexually Exploitive Videos and Photos of Children

Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Joshua Davis Loucks, 37.

According to information presented to the court, Loucks took sexually explicit photos and produced videos of a minor victim who was ten years of age. He also received computer images depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Cercone noted the extreme depravity of Loucks’ conduct along with Loucks’ lengthy and serious criminal history.

Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Acting United States Attorney Kaufman commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Erie Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Loucks.