Thomas Cade Martin, Child Sex Exploitation, Indiana 2024

Carmel Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Federal Prison for Child Sex Exploitation and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

INDIANAPOLIS — Thomas Cade Martin, 27, of Carmel, Indiana, has been sentenced to 275 months in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and possession of child sexual abuse material. He was also ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution and must register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school.

According to court documents, in late 2022, Carmel Police Department officers received a report of sexual exploitation of a male minor victim. The report found that Thomas Martin asked Minor Victim 1, a 15-year-old male, to meet in-person after being introduced through Grindr, an online dating application. Martin continued conversations with MV1 through Instagram and Snapchat, initially lying about his identity and age in order to groom MV1.

Over the course of three weeks, Martin met MV1 in-person on multiple occasions at his Carmel apartment and other public locations to engage in sexual intercourse. Martin also engaged in grooming behaviors, such as purchasing clothes and dinners for MVI, and even buying the child a birthday cake when he turned 16 years old.

A search of Martin’s cellphone recovered multiple sexually explicit “live photos” produced by Martin of the victim, as well as other images taken of the two together at local restaurants and public meeting spots in Carmel.

“Martin sexually abused and exploited a 15-year-old boy, having gained his adoration and trust online. Taking advantage of vulnerable teens for sexual gain is a despicable crime that merits significant prison time,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “The sentence imposed today should serve as a warning to would-be groomers and offenders: if you solicit and exploit minors for sex, you will spend many years in federal prison.”

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany J. Preston, who is prosecuting this case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations and Carmel Police Department investigated this case. The Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force also assisted in the investigation.

Defendant: Thomas Cade Martin

Criminal Charges: Distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and possession of child sexual abuse material

City and State: Carmel, Indiana

Exact Date: Late 2022 (crime date) and 2024 (sentencing date)

Sentence or Outcome: 275 months in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release

Dollar Amount: $10,000 in restitution

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/pr/carmel-man-sentenced-22-years-federal-prison-sexual-exploitation-and-possession-child