Jordan Vaughn Sentenced

Jordan Vaughn, 34, of Scribner, Nebraska, has been sentenced to 720 months in federal prison for two counts of production of child pornography. The sentence, handed down by United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis, is the result of a thorough investigation that uncovered Vaughn’s egregious exploitation of multiple young children.

The case began when it was discovered that Vaughn had been sending images of his genitals to a minor child. Further investigation revealed that Vaughn was sexually abusing multiple young children, aged 12 and younger, and preserving digital evidence of the assaults. The investigation also found that Vaughn would sexually assault one or more of his victims while they were asleep.

A search of Vaughn’s phone located a large amount of child pornography in addition to evidence of production of child pornography. This evidence was crucial in building the case against Vaughn, who worked at the Winnebago Police Department in Winnebago, Nebraska in late 2024 and early 2025. Vaughn was terminated from his position over the instant offenses, stripping him of his police badge and preventing him from carrying a weapon on the Winnebago reservation and having access to more children in the line of duty.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods stated, "The successful investigation and prosecution of this egregious child sex offender not only ended the living nightmares of each vulnerable victim he targeted but also stripped this predator of his police badge and prevented him from carrying a weapon on the Winnebago reservation and having access to more children in the line of duty. The just and appropriate sentence in this case fits the outrageousness and depravity of the unthinkable crimes committed against these innocent children."

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.

The investigation was conducted by the Lincoln Police Department in conjunction with the Omaha FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The efforts of these agencies have resulted in a significant sentence for Vaughn, who will serve 720 months in federal prison, followed by a life term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system, ensuring that Vaughn will be held accountable for his heinous crimes for the rest of his life.

The sentence handed down in this case sends a clear message that the production and exploitation of child pornography will not be tolerated. The Department of Justice and its partner agencies will continue to work tirelessly to identify and prosecute individuals who engage in these horrific crimes, and to support the victims and their families throughout the process.