HSI investigation leads to 13-year prison sentence for trafficking child sex abuse material
Cell phone search found over 600 images of sexual abuse and torture
INDIANAPOLIS — A judge sentenced Robert Ficzner, 27, of Fishers, Indiana to 13 years in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material following a joint investigation between Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and other agencies.
According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 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 2022, investigators approached Ficzner, who 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.
“This sentencing shows just how damaging Ficzner’s crimes against children are and emphasizes HSI’s dedication to hold perpetrators accountable,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Sean Fitzgerald. “We, alongside our law enforcement partners, are committed to keeping the most vulnerable of our communities safe. Child predators like Ficzner should not escape justice and we will seek serious consequences for their heinous actions.”
When investigators searched Ficzner’s cellphone, 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 more than 600 images and included depictions of the sexual abuse and torture of infants and toddlers, as well as sadistic and masochistic conduct.
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. U.S. District Court Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson imposed the sentence. She 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 his victims. Ficzner must also register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works or goes to school, as required by law.
“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.”
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.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
Learn more about HSI’s mission to combat child exploitation in our community on Twitter @HSIChicago.
Updated: