This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)), published as received.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that David John Groth, 38, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on October 30, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for receipt and distribution of child pornography. United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Groth to 168 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Groth’s release from prison, he will begin a six-year term of supervised release. Judge Rossiter ordered Groth to pay $5,000 in restitution to each of two identified victims and a $5,000 special assessment pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018, which supports the Defined Monetary Assistance Victims Reserve to provide compensation for victims of child sexual abuse material.

Between October 5, 2024, and April 30, 2025, Kik/Media Lab Inc. (Kik), an electronic service provider, made 12 Cyber Tip reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Each Cyber Tip reported a Kik user uploaded and then distributed to another Kik user, via the application’s chat function, videos depicting child pornography. Location information associated with each Cyber Tip resolved to Groth’s residence in Nebraska. Through investigative legal processes, a task force officer with the FBI located 110 child pornography videos and 30 child pornography images across all related Kik accounts. The agent observed pictures of Groth within the Kik accounts and confirmed Groth sent child pornography files to other Kik users using the Kik accounts reported in the Cyber Tips. Groth discussed his sexual attraction to children and the sexual abuse of children with other Kik users. Groth invited Kik users to connect with him on Telegram to further exchange child pornography.

On August 7, 2025, agents executed a search warrant at Groth’s residence in Bellevue, Nebraska, and seized electronic devices including computers, hard drives, and cell phones. Agents forensically analyzed Groth’s iPhone. Groth admitted using Kik on the iPhone. Agents located 38 child pornography images and 71 child pornography videos on Groth’s iPhone. The child pornography recovered from Groth’s Kik accounts and his iPhone depicted the sexual abuse and exploitation of pubescent and prepubescent children, toddlers, and infants. Groth’s child pornography included sadistic and masochistic conduct, children being bound and lead around on a leash. 

“It is a victory for Nebraska every single time that a sex offender of this kind is taken off our streets, out of neighborhoods, and kept locked up and away from our children,” said United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods. “This conviction and outcome are just, and the United States Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize going after offenders that target kids until none remain inside our borders.”

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 Federal Bureau of Investigation.