OMAHA, NEBRASKA – Brian G. McAtee, 43, of Omaha, will spend the next eight and a half years in federal prison after being sentenced on June 24, 2025, for possessing sickening child pornography. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. handed down the 103-month sentence, with McAtee ineligible for parole. The sentence isn’t just about confinement; McAtee will also face seven years of supervised release after he eventually leaves prison, and a hefty $27,000 in restitution payments to nine identified victims – $3,000 per victim for the unimaginable harm inflicted.
The case unraveled after Discord, Inc. flagged suspicious activity on January 5, 2023. Two reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) detailed a Discord user uploading images depicting the abuse of children. Investigators quickly traced the uploads back to an Omaha residence, where McAtee resided. It wasn’t sophisticated concealment; the digital trail led directly to his door.
On January 31, 2024, Nebraska State Patrol investigators paid McAtee a visit. He readily admitted to using Discord and, disturbingly, confessed to possessing child pornography on his cell phone. He voluntarily surrendered the device, even providing the passcode and directing investigators to the horrific content. A subsequent forensic examination of the phone and its SIM card revealed the true extent of his depravity: at least 696 image files and 115 video files depicting the sexual exploitation of children.
The files weren’t merely disturbing; they were deeply depraved, containing images and videos of prepubescent children, including infants and toddlers, subjected to sexual abuse. Investigators found depictions of adults engaging in sex with children, along with material showcasing sadomasochism. The sheer volume of the content points to a prolonged and deliberate pattern of abuse, a calculated collection of trauma.
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods emphasized that this prosecution is part of “Project Safe Childhood,” a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 to combat the escalating epidemic of child sexual exploitation. The project, led by the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney’s Offices, aims to bolster federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute predators like McAtee and, crucially, rescue the victims. You can find more information about Project Safe Childhood at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The Nebraska State Patrol led the investigation, diligently piecing together the evidence that led to McAtee’s conviction and sentencing. While no sentence can undo the harm caused, this conviction sends a clear message: those who prey on children will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice. This case serves as a grim reminder of the dark corners of the internet and the ongoing need for vigilance in protecting the most vulnerable among us.
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Key Facts
- State: Nebraska
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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