United States of America v. Thomas Mills V

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with possession of child porn.

On or about October 22, 2018, officers with the Zachary Police Department were dispatched to an area on Highway 19 in reference to a suspicious vehicle. An anonymous caller advised that an unknown male was parked in an alley behind a party store. Upon arrival, officers approached the entrance of the alleyway and encountered Thomas Mills V, age 59, of Zachary, Louisiana, who was the driver and sole occupant of a 2008 Honda Fit. Mills exited the vehicle and initially told officers that he was cleaning his car behind the buildings. He then advised he was using the internet to send emails. Mills presented officers with his Louisiana driver’s license, which indicated that he was a resident of Baton Rouge and a registered sex offender.

Because Mills initially told officers that he lived in Zachary but was registered as a sex offender in Baton Rouge, officers believed that he was possibly in violation of state sex offender registration laws. Mills was observed acting nervously when speaking with the officers. Despite officers requesting him to remain in front of one of the patrol vehicles as they attempted to verify his information, Mills was observed moving towards his vehicle and was ordered to return to the front of the patrol unit on three separate occasions. While officers were questioning him about the address discrepancy, they approached his vehicle and observed a laptop computer in plain view on the driver’s side floorboard and a USB storage device on the front passenger seat.

Officers initiated a criminal history check on Mills, which revealed he had a previous federal felony conviction for possession of child pornography in 2012. After learning this information, Mills was asked if he was on probation. He responded affirmatively, identified his probation officer and provided their contact information. Officers also verified that the 2008 Honda Fit was registered to Mills.

While on scene, officers contacted the probation officer and learned that Mills was in violation of his conditions of supervised release by possessing a computer and computer components such as USB storage devices. The probation officer requested that officers seize the electronic devices in his possession.

After securing Mills inside of the unit, officers recovered approximately nineteen electronic devices from his vehicle. The nineteen devices seized from Mills were sent to a forensic examiner with U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services for forensic analysis. The analysis revealed approximately 1,325 pictures and 6 videos depicting child exploitation images.

In 2013, Mills was sentenced to 62 months of imprisonment for his 2012 conviction for possession of child pornography.

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, Zachary Police Department, and U.S. Probation and Parole, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eli J. Abad.

The Defendant was found guilty and was sentenced to Thomas Mills V, age 59, of Zachary, Louisiana.