Kentucky Man Charged With Federal Child Pornography Offenses

NASHVILLE – A criminal complaint unsealed yesterday, charged a Florence, Kentucky man with attempted production of child pornography, attempted enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Mary Jane Stewart for the Middle District of Tennessee. 

Thomas Niemeyer, 42, was arrested by FBI agents in Kentucky yesterday and made an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of Kentucky.  He will be returned to the Middle District of Tennessee for further proceedings. 

According to the complaint, an FBI agent in middle Tennessee was conducting a covert online investigation, posing as an underage female on an online dating app.  Although the app requires users to be at least 18 years of age, it is widely known that many users under the age of 18 misrepresent their age. 

On March 30, 2021, the FBI agent was contacted online by an individual, later identified as Neimeyer, whose profile indicated that he was 38.  The FBI agent verified to Neimeyer that she was actually 13 years old and Neimeyer almost immediately turned the conversation to a sexual nature.  During the course of the next few months, the FBI agent and Neimeyer continued their conversations on the Snapchat app and Niemeyer sent numerous photos and videos depicting sexual activity and made several requests to the FBI agent to send nude photos. 

On June 18, 2021, Neimeyer and the FBI agent agreed to meet in middle Tennessee to engage in sexual activity, however, Neimeyer contacted the FBI agent that morning and said he had changed his mind after driving some distance toward Tennessee because he was afraid of being met by law enforcement when he arrived.  Further investigation by the FBI identified Neimeyer as the suspect and confirmed the location of the IP address as Neimeyer’s home in Florence, Kentucky.

If convicted, Neimeyer faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years, and up to life in prison.

This case was investigated by the FBI.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Morrison is prosecuting the case.

# # # # #