Pendleton Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Sexual Crimes with a Child

 INDIANAPOLIS - A Pendleton man was sentenced to 30 years for several counts of sexual exploitation of a child, coercion and enticement of a child, and possession of child pornography.

According to court documents, in January 2017, Jeffrey Kramer, 51, of Pendleton, used an online dating website to meet the minor victim. Kramer falsely represented to the victim that his name was "Michael", and that he was a wealthy foreigner. Kramer used the internet, including social media, and family heritage websites, to gain and verify information about the minor victim and her family. He knew that the victim was under the age of 18 and that her father had recently died. He promised to give her millions of dollars if she self-produced child pornography at Kramer’s direction.

For approximately a year, Kramer used the internet to groom and psychologically extort the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Specifically, to produce and send violent child sexual abuse material (CSAM) over the internet, and to enter a bondage­-discipline, dominance, submission, and sadism-masochism (BDSM) relationship with him.

“Adults who sexually exploit children are some of the worst in our society,” said Childress. “No amount of time behind bars seems adequate punishment for the monstrous behavior and harm Kramer knowingly caused this victim. We will continue to diligently work together with our law enforcement partners to identify these predators and bring justice to their victims.” 

“Those who prey on the most vulnerable of our citizens, our children, will be held accountable for their heinous actions,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan. “This lengthy sentence demonstrates our commitment to identify and investigate those who exploit innocent children to ensure they can never victimize anyone else.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany J. Preston, who prosecuted the case for the government said Kramer must pay $10,000 in restitution and serve the remainder of his life on supervised release after his imprisonment.