U.S. Attorney Susan T. Lehr | U.S. Department of Justice
Edward Charles Lynch, a 76-year-old resident of Omaha, Nebraska, has been sentenced to 151 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography. The sentencing took place on December 19, 2024, with United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher presiding over the case. In addition to his prison term, Lynch will undergo an eight-year supervised release period following his incarceration. He is also required to pay $114,000 in restitution and $7,600 in special assessments.
The investigation began on June 16, 2022, when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a report from Microsoft Bing Image - Online Operations about explicit images involving a minor being uploaded by one of its users. Law enforcement traced the IP address linked to the upload back to Lynch's residence in Omaha.
A search warrant was executed at Lynch's home on October 19, 2022. Authorities seized a computer belonging to him which contained approximately 443,731 images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Lynch has a prior conviction dating back to November 1, 1996, for Sexual Assault of Child in Sarpy County, Nebraska.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The project involves collaboration between United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), as well as federal, state and local resources dedicated to prosecuting offenders and rescuing victims. Further details about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force conducted the investigation leading to Lynch's arrest.
