Michael Ingram, Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Indiana 2020

Two Indianapolis men have been sentenced to a combined 60 years in federal prison for their roles in the sexual exploitation of a child. Michael Ingram, 43, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Conspiracy to Sexually Exploit Children, and Distribution and Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material.

Cameron Helm, 36, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was also sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy Sexually Exploit Children and Distribution and Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material.

According to court documents, in March 2020, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) began investigating Ingram after receiving a CyberTip from an email provider. Further investigation revealed that the owner of this email account sent child sex abuse material to Ingram’s email account. Investigators were able to tie the account to Ingram’s Indianapolis residence and obtained a warrant to search for evidence of crimes.

Members of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force executed the warrant and recovered Ingram’s iPhone and iPad. A forensic examination of these devices revealed that Ingram had produced, distributed, and possessed child sex abuse material.

In addition, over 1,600 text messages were located on the devices between Ingram and Helm, from February 7, 2018, to October 2020. In these texts, Ingram and Helm conspired to sexually exploit a child and graphically described potential sex acts with children. At Helm’s direction, Ingram took photos of himself sexually assaulting a child. Ingram distributed that child sex abuse material to Helm, and Helm distributed other child sex abuse material to Ingram in return.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana Zachary A. Myers made the announcement. These criminals “placed their own sexual gratification above the autonomy, dignity, and safety of a vulnerable child,” Myers said.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge, Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Ingram be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for life and Helm be supervised for 15 years following their release from federal prison. Ingram and Helm must also register as sex offenders wherever they live, work, or go to school, as required by law. Additionally, Helm must pay $10,000 in restitution to the child victims and has been fined $10,000 pursuant the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.

This investigation was conducted by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a partnership of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies led by the Indiana State Police. The Task Force is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting crimes involving the technology-facilitated sexual exploitation of children and the trafficking of child sexual abuse material.

Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/pr/indianapolis-men-sentenced-combined-60-years-federal-prison-their-roles-sexual