District of Nebraska
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
North Platte Man Sentenced in Child Porn CaseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced that Jason Bielicki was sentenced today by United States District Judge John M. Gerrard to 84 months in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release after entering a guilty plea to one count of Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography.
Beginning in July, 2011, and continuing into September, 2011, an investigator with the North Platte Police Department used automated software to determine that a computer utilizing a specific IP address was sharing child pornography through the Internet. A search warrant was obtained for the search of the residence of Bielicki in North Platte. During an interview, Bielicki initially said that he was downloading items to report to others but then admitted to viewing, possessing, and sharing images and videos of child pornography.
A forensic examination of the computers and related storage media revealed over 110 GB of items that were believed to be child pornography and child erotica. Over 2,100 items were sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for identification. NCMEC identified victims in 96 videos and 105 digital images to be from outside the State of Nebraska. The material found included videos and digital images of graphic sexually explicit conduct and prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Some of the images were received by the defendant from at least on or about June 1, 2011, to October 31, 2011. In addition, Bielicki indicated to agents during the interview that he was a moderator for at least one bulletin board website that allowed individuals to upload images and videos of sexually explicit conduct, including child pornography.
The investigation of this matter was conducted by the North Platte Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations.
Lincoln Woman Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced that on January 7, 2013, Tiffany Lynn Lafond, 37, of Lincoln, was sentenced to ten years (120 months) in federal prison for her involvement in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine between June of 2010 and March of 2012. Information provided to law enforcement indicated that Lafond was responsible for the distribution of at least 500 grams (approximately 18 ounces) of methamphetamine during that time frame in the Lincoln area.
Following the prison term, Lafond will serve five years on supervised release.
The matter was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force, which includes officers of the Lincoln Police Department, the Lancaster County Sheriff=s Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, (FBI), and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Police Department.
Lincoln Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced that on January 7, 2013, Ledon Marcel Hatcliff, 27, of Lincoln, was sentenced to 15 years and eight months (188 months) in federal prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine between June of 2009 and February of 2011. Information provided to law enforcement indicated that Hatcliff was responsible for the distribution of at least 350 grams (approximately 12 ½ ounces) of methamphetamine during that time frame in the Lincoln area.
Following the prison term, Hatcliff will serve four years on supervised release.
The matter was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force, which includes officers of the Lincoln Police Department, the Lancaster County Sheriff=s Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, (FBI), and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Police Department.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced that Steven D. Fonder, age 33 of Omaha, was sentenced in United States District Court in Omaha for receiving and possessing child pornography. The Honorable Laurie Smith Camp, Chief Judge sentenced Fonder to 84 months imprisonment on Count I for receiving and distributing child pornography and 84 months on Count II for possessing child pornography. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently to each other. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison Fonder will be on supervised release for ten years and will be required to register as a sex offender.
On September 13, 2011 an Investigator with the Nebraska State Patrol was conducting an undercover investigation looking for individuals sharing child pornography on the internet. The information developed through the investigation was used to obtain a federal search warrant.
On April 4, 2012 agents with the FBI Omaha Cyber Crimes Task Force served a search warrant on Fonder’s South Omaha residence. Forensic analysis of the computer revealed 1,250 videos and 40,000 images of child pornography. The children depicted in sexually explicit conduct ranged from infants to teens. Fonder admitted to collecting child pornography over a six year period.
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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .
This matter was investigated by the Omaha FBI’s Cyber Crime Task Force (CCTF), of which the Nebraska State Patrol is a partner. The Omaha CCTF is a multi-jurisdictional task force consisting of eleven federal, state and local law enforcement agencies from Nebraska and Iowa. The mission of the Omaha CCTF is to investigate and apprehend high technology criminals and to protect our communities by preventing high technology crime and national security threats involving computers and computer networks. The Omaha CCTF was established on the premise that the capabilities of law enforcement agencies to investigate computer and high technology related crimes are enhanced in a task force setting involving the sharing of resources and expertise.