Dakota S. Smith, Receipt of Child Pornography, Nebraska 2023

A Lincoln man has been sentenced to 76 months in prison for receipt of child pornography. Dakota S. Smith, 27, of Red Oak, Iowa, was living in Lincoln at the time of the offense. The sentence was handed down today in federal court in Lincoln.

According to the investigation, agents with the United States Department of Homeland Security received a tip that Smith had shared child pornography over the internet. The agents obtained a search warrant for Smith’s residence, which was executed on June 4, 2020. Electronic devices belonging to Smith were found in the home and images and videos depicting child pornography were found on those devices.

Approximately 95% of the child pornography found on Smith’s devices portrayed victims under the age of 12, and about 25% of the material showed victims who were infants or toddlers. The Nebraska State Patrol and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office contributed substantially to this investigation.

Smith was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $9,000. There is no parole in the federal system. The 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.

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.justice.gov/psc.

Smith’s case is a stark reminder of the dangers of child sexual exploitation and the importance of continued efforts to combat this growing epidemic. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and bring you updates as more information becomes available.

Defendant: Dakota S. Smith

Criminal Charges: Receipt of Child Pornography

City and State: Lincoln, Nebraska

Date: June 4, 2020 (search warrant executed)

Sentence: 76 months in prison, followed by an 8-year term of supervised release

Restitution: $9,000

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