Charles Piel, Child Exploitation, Indianapolis IN, 2021

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Charles Piel, 24, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to a staggering 40 years in federal prison for a sickening pattern of sexual abuse and exploitation of children. The twice-convicted sex offender wasn’t just possessing illegal images; he was actively creating them and distributing them online, including material involving a minor child in Florida. This isn’t a first offense – Piel has a documented history of preying on vulnerable kids.

Investigators began to unravel Piel’s depravity in 2020, discovering he was sending and receiving child sexual abuse material over the internet. The investigation quickly expanded to reveal a disturbing series of interactions with a teenage victim in Michigan. In September 2020, Piel traveled to Michigan and engaged in sexual conduct with the child, meticulously recording the abuse. He didn’t stop there. Piel continued communicating with the victim and created further explicit recordings via video conferencing, hoarding the material on his devices until his arrest in October 2020.

The sentencing reveals a deeply troubling pattern of recidivism. In 2017, Piel was convicted of Sexual Battery in Hendricks County, Indiana, for sexually abusing two minor boys, receiving only probation. A year later, while still on probation, he was convicted of Possession of Child Pornography in Marion County and placed on community corrections, which he promptly violated, landing him in jail. Upon release, he immediately resumed his predatory behavior, initiating contact with the Florida minor and eventually traveling to Michigan to commit further abuse.

“Charles Piel is a habitual child predator who made a career out of sexually abusing and exploiting children,” stated U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “I commend the work of the investigators and prosecutors who have taken this child predator out of our community and helped to bring justice to his young victims.” The Southern District of Indiana, where the case was prosecuted, remains a national leader in child exploitation prosecutions, ranking second among all federal districts in 2019.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) and the United States Secret Service, highlighting the importance of interagency cooperation in combating these heinous crimes. IMPD Police Chief Randal Taylor stated, “The world is a safer place without Mr. Piel on the streets. No longer will he be able to prey on some our most innocent residents.” Eric K. Reed, Special Agent in Charge of the Secret Service Indianapolis Field Office, emphasized the agency’s commitment to investigating sexual exploitation of children through partnerships with organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Assistant United States Attorney Kristina M. Korobov secured the conviction and 40-year sentence, and also obtained a court order requiring Piel to pay $20,000 in restitution to his victims. He will also be subject to federal supervision for life after his release. The case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe, a dedicated initiative to protect children from online exploitation. Piel’s lengthy sentence sends a clear message: those who prey on children will face severe consequences.

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