Former NFL Player Sentenced for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Nicholas Murphy, age 44, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced August 8, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for coercion and enticement of a minor. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Murphy to 57 months' imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Murphy is released from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine and restitution to the victim.

Sometime in 2021, Murphy began a relationship with a 17-year-old who was a dancer at The Dance Authority, a studio in Omaha. Murphy's wife was the former owner of The Dance Authority. Murphy had communication with the minor which developed into a romantic relationship. In October 2021, Murphy purchased the minor a first-class airline ticket after the minor's mother, who did not know about the relationship, inquired if Murphy had any travel plans between Arizona and Nebraska, and if the minor could accompany Murphy. After flying to Arizona together from Omaha, Murphy had sex with the minor in his hotel. In Arizona, it is illegal to have sex with a minor under the age of 18 years of age. Murphy pleaded guilty to persuading and enticing the minor to travel in interstate commerce to engage in sex.

This case was investigated by <_w3a_sdt docpart="CD5E35C459EB4629AE003D490B93BC59" dropdown="t" id="1639759743" sdttag="Agency" title="Agency"><_w3a_listitem datavalue="[CHOOSE AN AGENCY]" listvalue="[CHOOSE AN AGENCY]"> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. " listvalue="the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. "> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Drug Enforcement Administration." listvalue="the Drug Enforcement Administration."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Federal Bureau of Investigation." listvalue="the Federal Bureau of Investigation."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Department of Homeland Security." listvalue="the Department of Homeland Security."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="Homeland Security Investigations." listvalue="Homeland Security Investigations."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="Immigration and Customs Enforcement." listvalue="Immigration and Customs Enforcement."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Internal Revenue Service." listvalue="the Internal Revenue Service."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="IRS Criminal Investigations." listvalue="IRS Criminal Investigations."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force. " listvalue="the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force. "> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Lincoln Police Department." listvalue="the Lincoln Police Department."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Nebraska State Patrol." listvalue="the Nebraska State Patrol."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force" listvalue="the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force"> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Omaha Police Department." listvalue="the Omaha Police Department."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Postal Inspection Service." listvalue="the Postal Inspection Service."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the U.S. Secret Service." listvalue="the U.S. Secret Service."> the Federal Bureau of Investigation.