Brian G. McAtee, a 43-year-old resident of Omaha, Nebraska, has been sentenced to 103 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography. The sentencing took place on June 24, 2025, under Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr., who also ordered McAtee to serve a seven-year term of supervised release following his imprisonment. Additionally, McAtee is required to pay $3,000 in restitution to each of nine identified victims, totaling $27,000.
The case began on January 5, 2023, when Discord Inc. reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that a user had uploaded images depicting child pornography. The IP address linked to these uploads was traced back to McAtee’s residence in Omaha.
On January 31, 2024, Nebraska State Patrol Investigators contacted McAtee at his home. During the interaction, McAtee admitted to using Discord and possessing child pornography on his cell phone. He voluntarily handed over his phone along with its passcode and directed investigators to the illicit content stored on it. A forensic analysis revealed that McAtee’s device contained at least 696 image files and 115 video files of child pornography involving prepubescent children and infants.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. This program involves collaboration between U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), utilizing federal, state, and local resources for apprehending offenders who exploit children online while identifying and rescuing victims.
The investigation was conducted by the Nebraska State Patrol.
