A disturbing case of child exploitation has come to light in Chesterton, Indiana, where a 64-year-old man has been sentenced to 292 months imprisonment for coercing a 12-year-old girl into performing sex acts.
Willard Abatie, a resident of Chesterton, Indiana, was sentenced by District Court Judge Joseph S. Van Bokkelen for one count of coercion and enticement of a minor.
According to court documents, Abatie gained access to the 12-year-old girl by agreeing to help her mother facilitate a money laundering scheme. In exchange for facilitating these transactions, Abatie demanded and received sexual contact with the minor.
Abatie’s despicable crimes were committed on approximately ten occasions between March and December 2014. His actions have left the community reeling and serving as a stark reminder of the dangers that children face on a daily basis.
The investigation into Abatie’s crimes was led by the United States Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in collaboration with the Hammond and East Chicago Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abizer Zanzi handled the case.
The sentence imposed on Abatie is a testament to the determination of law enforcement agencies to bring child predators to justice. We must continue to support efforts to protect our children from such heinous crimes.
Abatie will serve 292 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release. It is our hope that his sentence will serve as a warning to others who would seek to exploit children in such a manner.
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Related Federal Cases
- Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Attempted Transportation of a Minor · Texas
- Indiana Man Indicted in Child Exploitation Case · Illinois
- Joe Medina Pleads Guilty in Child Exploitation Case · New Mexico
- Adrian Grisanti Charged in Child Pornography Scheme · Indiana
- Timothy Ryan Gets 157 Months for Child Porn Crimes · Indiana
Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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