GONZALES – The former Gonzales Fire Chief has been convicted of child pornography charges, according to U.S. Attorney Walt Green.

Former Gonzales District Fire Chief Kristopher Johnson, 36, was convicted of four counts of distributing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.

Johnson pleaded guilty to the above charges and will be sentenced at a later date.

The investigation began when law enforcement learned that a Gmail user with several email addresses, including the address kjohnson@gonzalesfd.com, had uploaded child porn images into an online photo account. Investigators then traced the user's IP addresses back to Johnson's home.

After a search warrant was executed, investigators found child porn on Johnson's cell phone and iPad, including images of children being sexually abused between the ages of six and twelve.

Johnson admitted to going to different websites to look at child porn and trading child porn via Google. Additionally, he admitted to looking at child porn that involved the niece of someone that he was corresponding with. It was further discovered that Johnson texted images of child being sexually abused to another person via a texting application.

The matter is still being investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Cyber Crime Unit of the Louisiana Attorney General's Office. The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office also assisted in the investigation. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ryan R. Crosswell .