United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Jeremiah Thurman, 43, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 20, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln for receipt of child pornography. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Thurman to a total of 260 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Thurman’s release from prison, he will begin a 20-year term of supervised release. Thurman was additionally ordered to pay $3,000 which will contribute to funds established for victims of these types of cases.
This case began in March of 2024 when the Clarinda Police Department in Iowa received a report of a minor female (Victim 1) having inappropriate conversations with adult men online Thurman was identified as having sexually explicit conversations with Victim 1 and receiving sexually explicit photos and videos of her. The initial investigation revealed Thurman was on the Nebraska Sex Offender registry for a prior crime.
The FBI executed a search warrant for Thurman’s residence on April 12, 2024. During the search, Thurman admitted to sending money to Victim 1 in exchange for nude pictures. A review of texts between Victim 1 and Thurman revealed phone calls and chat communications. Thurman would request explicit photos and videos from Victim 1. Thurman and Victim 1 also discussed how she was still in high school and living with family. As communications came to an end, Thurman discussed meeting up with Victim 1 and suggested getting a motel room. His plans did not occur due to the messages being discovered and police report being made.
“There are an alarming number of child predators online targeting Nebraska’s children, and we will not stop pursuing every single one of them until each is locked up behind bars where they cannot do harm to Nebraska’s children,” said United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods
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 Attorneys’ 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 case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Nebraska — U.S. Department of Justice press release.