Submitted
Robert Ficzner, 27, Fishers, has been sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received information from Omegle, a one-on-one random video chat application, that Robert Ficzner had displayed an image of a naked, prepubescent 5-year-old to other Omegle users. In March of 2022, Ficzner was approached by investigators and admitted that he showed the sexually explicit images of the child to elicit a “reaction” from other Omegle users. Additionally, Ficzner admitted to receiving and sharing child sexual abuse material via the Kik and Telegram instant messaging applications.
When investigators searched Ficzner’s cell phone, they found multiple files containing child sexual abuse material, as well as conversations between Ficzner and other participants discussing their desires and plans to kidnap and sexually abuse children.
Ficzner’s collection of child sexual abuse material contained well over 600 images and included depictions of the sexual abuse and torture of infants and toddlers, as well as sadistic and masochistic conduct.
“Civilized society will not tolerate the trafficking of images of the sexual torture of babies and toddlers,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Even worse, this defendant discussed his desires and plans to kidnap and sexually abuse children with likeminded offenders online. The serious sentence imposed here demonstrates that federal, state, and local law enforcement will root out those criminals who pose a danger to our children, prosecute them, and get them off our streets.”
“This sentencing shows just how damaging Ficzner’s crimes against children are and emphasizes HSI’s dedication to hold perpetrators accountable,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago area of operations Sean Fitzgerald. “We, alongside our law enforcement partners, are committed to keeping the most vulnerable of our communities safe. Child predators like Ficzner cannot escape justice and there will be serious consequences for their heinous actions.”
Homeland Security Investigations, the Hamilton County Metropolitan Child Exploitation Task Force, and the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Jane E. Magnus-Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Ficzner be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 15 years following his release from federal prison and pay $8,000 in restitution to the victims. Ficzner must also register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, as required by law.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kristina M. Korobov and Trial Attorney Adam Braskich of the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, who prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc.