Omaha Man Sentenced for Distribution of Child Pornography

United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Robert Sebastian, 55, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 18, 2022, in federal court in Omaha for distribution and receipt of child pornography. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr., sentenced Sebastian to 240 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal prison system. After his release from prison, Sebastian will be on supervised release for life and will be required to register as a sex offender.

In April 2020, members of the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force began investigating CyberTipline reports alleging that a Facebook and Yahoo user was sending child pornography to other users. Agents determined that the email addresses and IP addresses connected with the online activity were associated with Sebastian and executed a search warrant at Sebastian’s residence in Omaha. Sebastian eventually admitted to viewing and possessing child pornography. Forensic examinations of Sebastian’s devices showed at least 1,100 images and more than 80 videos of child pornography on the devices.

Sebastian, who sometimes claims the title of “reverend,” has multiple prior convictions in New London, Connecticut for sexual assaults of minors.

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 case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department and the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.