Jeffrey T. Fenn, Jr., 37, of Omaha, is headed to federal prison for 96 months after attempting to coerce a 12-year-old girl into sending sexually explicit images during an online relationship that began through a video game. U.S. District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr., handed down the sentence in federal court, marking the end of a years-long investigation into Fenn’s predatory digital behavior. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, Fenn met the preteen while playing an online video game and quickly moved their conversations to a popular messaging platform. Over time, he escalated the relationship, pressuring the girl to produce and send sexually explicit photos of herself. He directed her to pose in specific ways and demanded images of explicit body parts. When she sent only suggestive photos, Fenn threatened to cut off communication unless she complied fully.
The girl refused to send the graphic material Fenn demanded. Instead, she reported the messages — a decision that triggered a law enforcement response. Authorities in Georgia, where the child resides, forwarded the evidence to the FBI’s Cyber Crimes Task Force, which launched an immediate investigation. On January 19, 2017, agents executed a search warrant at Fenn’s Omaha residence, seizing digital devices tied to the exchanges.
During questioning, Fenn admitted to texting the minor and acknowledged sending her sexually suggestive images. Investigators recovered digital trails linking him directly to the coercion attempts. Though no explicit images from the child were ever received, the effort to obtain them is a federal crime punishable by significant prison time — a reality Fenn now faces in full.
The case was prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), the program coordinates federal, state, and local efforts to track down predators, dismantle networks, and rescue victims exploited online.
Fenn will begin a five-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which he will be closely monitored by federal authorities. The investigation was conducted by the Omaha FBI Cyber Crime Task Force (CCTF), underscoring the growing role of digital forensics in catching predators who believe the internet shields them from accountability.
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Key Facts
- State: Nebraska
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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