Cedar Rapids man sentenced to 140 years for child sexual exploitation offenses following ICE HSI investigation

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – A man who sexually exploited two girls and committed child pornography offenses was sentenced January 18 to 140 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Katherine Greer and United States Attorney Sean Berry.

Nathan Nosley, age 30, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the sentence after a June 9, 2021 jury verdict finding him guilty of sexual exploitation of children, distribution of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, three counts of possession of child pornography, and accessing child pornography. The evidence at trial showed that, between 2018 and 2020, Nosley persuaded, induced, and enticed two girls to produce and send him pornographic images of themselves. Nosley also distributed child pornography to others, used cell phone apps to receive child pornography, used a cell phone to access child pornography, and possessed child pornography on a cell phone, on a memory card, and in an e-mail account.

“Criminals seeking to exploit children should pay close attention to this case and the resulting sentence,” said SAC Greer. “HSI and our law enforcement partners are very passionate about protecting the children in our community and work tirelessly every day to ensure we find, stop and prosecute, those who seek to victimize them.”

The evidence at trial and sentencing also showed that, prior to these offenses, defendant sexually abused a seven-year-old-girl. Nosley was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Nosley was sentenced to 1,680 months’ imprisonment. He was also ordered to make $12,000 in restitution to four victims depicted in child pornography he possessed. He also must serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term, and he must comply with all sex offender registration and public notification requirements.

“This case is a tragic example of the dangers children face on the internet.” said United States Attorney Sean Berry. “Child predators are constantly trying to manipulate kids into having sex or providing sexually explicit photos. We all must do our parts to prevent these crimes. Parents and loved ones should talk to kids about the dangers lurking on the internet and monitor what kids are doing online.”

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and investigated by HSI, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Marion Police Department. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.

HSI is committed to combating the sexual exploitation of children. Investigations of child sexual exploitation are among HSI’s primary investigative priorities. The sexual abuse of children impacts the most vulnerable segment of our society. HSI knows the importance of education and community awareness regarding the dangers of online activity. Providing children, teens, parents and teachers with information regarding the potential dangers of online environments and how to stay safe online can help prevent many instances of child exploitation. That is why HSI has partnered with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s NetSmartz and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces to develop Project iGuardian. For more information about Project iGuardian and online resources for children visit HSI's iGuardian page.

HSI is a directorate of ICE and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 7,100 special agents assigned to 220 cities throughout the United States, and 80 overseas locations in 53 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

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