Micah J. Cornell, 27, of Omaha, Nebraska, has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison for transporting child pornography. The sentencing took place on September 17, 2025, in Omaha’s federal court. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher handed down a sentence of 97 months’ imprisonment. Cornell will not be eligible for parole under the federal system and will be subject to five years of supervised release after serving his sentence. He was also ordered to pay $6,000 toward funds established for victims.
According to United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods, the case began with a CyberTip received in November 2023 that included one file of child pornography uploaded to an online platform. Authorities executed a search warrant on the account linked to the tip and discovered about 150 videos depicting child sexual abuse involving children from infancy up to twelve years old.
Further investigation led law enforcement to execute a search warrant at Cornell’s residence on June 5, 2024. Investigators seized electronic devices and interviewed Cornell, who admitted ownership of the email address and account under investigation. A review of his cellphone uncovered 77 image files and 33 videos containing child pornography.
“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,” according to information provided by authorities.
The Nebraska State Patrol conducted the investigation leading to Cornell’s prosecution.
