Gering Man Sentenced for Distributing Child Pornography

United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced that Ralph Moreno, 52, of Gering, Nebraska, was sentenced in the United States District Court at Lincoln, Nebraska, for distributing child pornography.  The Honorable John M. Gerrard sentenced Moreno to 72 months imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal prison system.  After his release from prison Moreno will begin a 5 year term of supervised release.  Moreno will also be required to register as a sex offender. 

On October 1, 2013, an Investigator with the Nebraska State Patrol downloaded a video of child pornography from Moreno’s computer.  Two days later, five additional videos of child pornography were downloaded from Moreno’s computer.  On November 12, 2013, Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol executed a search warrant at Moreno’s residence.  A list of search terms for securing child pornography was found in his bedroom.  A forensic review of his computer revealed over 200 videos of child pornography collected over a five year period.  The videos depicted numerous prepubescent children.  The most common age range depicted was 6-12 years.  The videos were graphic and showed children engaged in various sexual acts. 

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