Manitowoc Man Sentenced to 7 Years’ Imprisonment for Transportation of Child Pornography

Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on July 28, 2026, Zachariah R. Breihof (age 28), of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Byron B. Conway to 84 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of Transportation of Child Pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(1).

According to court documents, in January 2025, the defendant was the subject of a CyberTip indicating that he had uploaded approximately 130 images of child pornography to a popular cloud storage platform. Law enforcement investigated further and subsequently executed a search warrant at Breihof's residence. A review of the defendant's electronic devices revealed more than 28,000 files containing suspected child pornography and an additional 5,000 files were identified as "high-risk" child pornography.

Judge Conway described the defendant's crime as extremely serious and noted that the types of images possessed and transported by Breihof are "reviled by every culture." He further stated that Breihof exhibits "impulse problems" and emphasized the need to protect the public and deter similar conduct in the future. Following his seven-year prison sentence, the defendant will serve 10 years of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender under state and federal law.

"Every image of child pornography is a graphic memorialization of a child being abused," said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Schimel. "The abuse of children to create these images is driven by the demand from those who seek and view these materials. We have no higher priority than protecting our children, and Federal, state and local authorities will continue to aggressively pursue and lock up those who traffic in this vile trade."

"Crimes against children remain one of the highest priorities for the Manitowoc Police Department," said Manitowoc Police Chief John R. Musial II. "I am incredibly grateful for the dedicated members of our department who possess the skill, compassion, and professionalism to thoroughly investigate these difficult cases and seek justice on behalf of vulnerable victims.

I also want to extend my sincere appreciation to the United States Attorney's Office for its steadfast partnership and commitment to protecting children, supporting victims, and aggressively prosecuting those who exploit our most vulnerable. Holding offenders accountable requires strong collaboration between local and federal law enforcement, and that partnership plays a vital role in making our communities safer. Thank you for your exceptional service and unwavering dedication to the pursuit of justice."

This case was investigated by the Manitowoc Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the U.S. Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the 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.

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For further information contact:

Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero

(414) 297-1700

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