Annamarie Fleischman, a 36-year-old woman from Indiana, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to the sexual exploitation of a child and the receipt of child pornography. In addition to her prison sentence, she will face a lifetime of supervised release once she’s out of federal prison. Fleischman entered her guilty plea on April 20.
Fleischman was apprehended in August 2023 following a tip-off from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), an organization dedicated to the recovery of missing children and the fight against child sexual exploitation. This organization plays a crucial role in cyber-reporting, which ultimately led to Fleischman’s case.
According to reports, U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) agents, along with the Indiana State Police, executed a search warrant at a home on Palace Drive in Roanoke after receiving a cyber tip. The subsequent investigation revealed information that led to the arrests of both Fleischman and 35-year-old Cecil Spangler. Spangler faces two counts of child sexual abuse, while Fleischman is charged with one count each of child sexual abuse, exploitation, and pornography.
An ICE representative noted that during the period from April to August 2023, Fleischman was involved in explicit sexual acts with children, capturing these acts visually. Furthermore, in June, she received explicit images of children.
Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Homeland Security, remarked on the severity of Fleischman’s actions, emphasizing that such heinous behavior deserves a lengthy sentence. He affirmed HSI’s commitment to using all available resources to safeguard children from exploitation.
Fleischman’s prosecution occurred in the Northern District of Indiana, with support from various agencies including Homeland Security Investigations, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Indiana State Police, the Huntington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Roanoke Police Department.
