NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JAKE ALEXANDER GRZELKA (“GRZELKA”), age 40, of New Orleans, pled guilty on September 3, 2026, to Receipt of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.

GRZELKA faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five (5) years and a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years imprisonment, and/or a fine of up to $250,000.00, a term of supervised release of no less than five (5) years and up to life, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.

According to court records, beginning at an unknown time and until on or about July 31, 2025, GRZELKA received, and attempted to receive, images and videos of pre-pubescent child pornography. GRZELKA’s home was searched by state law enforcement officials and federal agents on July 31, 2025. GRZELKA was arrested during the execution of the search warrant by agents with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, after finding him in possession of electronic devices and media containing the sexual abuse of prepubescent children. Through a partnership between state and federal authorities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office adopted the state charges and is now prosecuting GRZELKA in federal court. GRZELKA is currently being held without bail in federal custody.

Sentencing is scheduled for December 8, 2026 before United States District Judge Brandon S. Long.

U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division.

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 Attorney’s 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.* * *