Missouri man sentenced for distribution of child pornography

WICHITA, KAN. - A Missouri man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

According to court documents, Adam T. Umstead, 42, of Independence, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.

In March 2025, Umstead used an online messaging platform to send CSAM which included prepubescent children subjected to sexually explicit conduct. He also used private chats to request CSAM from other users. Umstead admitted to disposing of the phone he was using to distribute CSAM two days before being interviewed by federal agents.

"Some child predators have this idea that by breaking their electronic devices that they are eliminating all of the evidence against them," said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. "Fortunately, there are many forensic investigators with the skills to get prosecutors the proof they need in order to seek justice."

The Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case.

Project Safe Childhood
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 U.S. Attorneys' Offices and 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 visithttps://www.justice.gov/psc.

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