TANGIPAHOA PARISH – Yesterday, the FBI New Orleans Child Exploitation Task Force (CETF) and the Louisiana State Police arrested 59-year-old Edd Scafidel Jr. of Ponchatoula for possession of pornography involving juveniles. Scafidel faces more than 1,000 counts of possession and his bond was set at $25 million dollars.
The investigation began in November 2018 after CETF agents received information related to the possession of child pornography. Agents searched Scafidel’s residence, and several electronic devices were seized as evidence. Scafidel was arrested and booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail. Potential federal criminal charges may be forthcoming, according to a State Police spokesman.
Agents assigned to the CETF focus on identifying, locating, and recovering child victims across the nation and investigate those criminal networks and individuals who exploit children. For more information on the CETF visit: https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/violent-crime/cac.
Police say the public plays an integral role in identifying individuals who commit these types of crimes. The Louisiana State Police online reporting system is also available to the public through a secure reporting form that is submitted to the appropriate investigators. Citizens can access the form by visiting http://www.lsp.org/help.html and clicking the Suspicious Activity link
