United States of America v. Reza Heta Pratama

New Orleans, Louisiana criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors

Republic of Indonesia National Guilty of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, that REZA HETA PRATAMA ("PRATAMA”), age 28, a foreign national of the Republic of Indonesia, pleaded guilty to Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2). PRATAMA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, a period of supervised release of up to life, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.



The U.S. District Judge Darrel James Papillion will sentence PRATAMA on September 9, 2025.



According to court documents, PRATAMA was previously employed by Carnival Cruise Lines and was arrested in July 2024 by U.S. Department of Homeland Security -Homeland Security Investigations agents, after being found in possession of child pornography at the Erato Street Cruise Terminal in New Orleans.



This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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 better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.



The U.S. Attorney's Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Reed of the Violent Crimes Unit.