Kristopher Meacham, Transporting a Minor for Sex, Indiana 2023

Gary Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison

A 29-year-old Gary man has been sentenced to 120 months in prison for his role in a disturbing child sex trafficking case, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch. Kristopher Meacham, 29, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Theresa L. Springmann following his plea of guilty to transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

Meacham was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the victim of his offense.

According to documents in the case, Mr. Meacham met a 14-year-old girl from Chicago in January 2018 in Gary, Indiana. The two communicated over social media, and during the communications Meacham told the girl he was 19 years old and arranged to meet her. In March of 2018, he drove to Chicago, picked up the 14-year-old and drove her to his home in Gary where he engaged in sexual acts with the child until she escaped the following day and was recovered by police.

This case is the result of the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation GRIT Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Northern District of Indiana Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill R. Koster.

Meacham's actions are a stark reminder of the dangers of child sex trafficking and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes. As a community, we must work together to prevent these types of crimes from happening and support victims in their recovery.

The Gary Police Department and the FBI GRIT Task Force are commended for their tireless efforts in bringing Meacham to justice. Their dedication to protecting our children and communities is truly commendable.

Meacham's sentencing serves as a warning to those who would seek to harm our children and exploit vulnerable individuals. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that justice is served and that those who commit these heinous crimes are held accountable.

The U.S. Attorney's Office is committed to protecting our children and communities from the scourge of child sex trafficking. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute these cases to the fullest extent of the law.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndin/pr/gary-man-sentenced-120-months-prison