SOUTH BEND – Eric R. Weiler, 46, of LaPorte, Indiana, was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio after entering a plea of guilty to production of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and making a destructive device, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch. 

Weiler was sentenced to 720 months in prison, 5 years of supervised release and ordered to pay 26,250 in restitution. 

“The facts of this case are horrific,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch.  “Mr. Weiler’s crimes caused great pain to the victim’s family and could have, but for the swift intervention of law enforcement, resulted in severe and permanent injury to other potential victims.  His 60 year sentence reflects the seriousness of his heinous crimes.”  Mr. Kirsch went on to express his sincere thanks to all the law enforcement officials involved in this case.

“This lengthy sentence will deliver some justice to the young victims and their families and ensure this defendant will never harm again,” said Special Agent in Charge Tim Jones of the ATF Chicago Field Division. “We will continue to investigate these serious crimes with our law enforcement partners and appreciate the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their diligence in prosecuting this particular case.”

"Mr. Weiler took advantage of some of the most vulnerable members of our society and his sentence reflects the heinous nature of his crime," said Special Agent in Charge Grant Mendenhall, FBI Indianapolis. "It also is a testament to the strong partnerships the FBI has with our law enforcement partners and should send a strong message that we will identify and pursue charges against those who perpetrate these illegal activities."

According to documents in this case, Weiler drugged several people so that they would be unconscious while he recorded a video of himself performing sex acts on an unconscious child. Weiler relived the abuse by writing about it many times in drawings and notes that were later recovered from his house.  In the summer of 2017, Weiler fixated on another child, who, according to his writings, he intended to kidnap and sexually abuse after killing the child’s guardians.  During that summer, Weiler became suspicious of a person and jerry-rigged that person’s car to explode by re-routing turn signal wires into the gas tank to create a spark.  Weiler had also been going into an abandoned house to watch the child playing outside.  Investigators went into the vacant house and discovered writings on interior walls documenting the writer’s attempts to acquire a girl under the age of twelve, ideally a newborn baby, for sexual contact.  Investigators recovered two incendiary devices, in Weiler’s home, one of which is commonly referred to as an improvised explosive device (IED) and had to later be detonated at the LaPorte County Fair Grounds.  Investigators also recovered multiple electronic devices and electronic storage devices in his home, which contained over 24,000 images and over 80 videos of child pornography, including the videos he had produced of himself with the unconscious drugged child.  Weiler’s electronic devices also contained videos of him threatening to use one of the explosive devices to extort sex from an unidentified woman.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office, LaPorte Police Department, Michigan City Police Department, and the Porter County Sheriff’s Department and Bomb Squad. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John M. Maciejczyk and Molly E. Donnelly.

###

SOUTH BEND – Eric R. Weiler, 46, of LaPorte, Indiana, tendered his plea of guilty to production of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and making a destructive device before US Magistrate Judge Michael G. Gotsch, Sr., announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch. 

According to documents in this case, on August 23, 2017, a person who lived near Weiler discovered that someone had run wires into the gas tank of that person’s car. On September18, 2017, investigators learned that Weiler had been accessing a vacant house next to the house of the person whose car had been wired to explode.  On the same date in September, investigators gained access to the vacant house and discovered writings on interior walls documenting the writer’s attempts to acquire a girl under the age of twelve, ideally a newborn baby, for sexual contact.  On September 20, 2017, two incendiary devices were located inside Weiler’s house, one of which is commonly referred to as an improvised explosive device (IED), and the other of which is commonly referred to as a CO2 “cricket” bomb.  On September 21, 2017, multiple electronic devices and electronic storage devices were located inside Weiler’s house, some of which contained over 24,000 images and over 80 videos of child pornography.  The videos included videos of Weiler engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of twelve.  Weiler’s electronic devices also contained videos of him discussing the explosive devices.

The Magistrate Judge will make a report and recommendation to the assigned District Court Judge whether the tendered plea should be accepted. The parties are afforded 14 days to object to the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation.  The District Judge thereafter will decide to accept or reject the tendered plea.  The plea is final when the District Court Judge accepts it.  A sentencing hearing will then be scheduled by the District Judge.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office, LaPorte Police Department, Michigan City Police Department, and the Porter County Sheriff’s Department. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John M. Maciejczyk and Molly E. Donnelly.

###

SOUTH BEND – Eric R. Weiler, 45, of LaPorte, Indiana, was charged in a six Count Indictment before a South Bend District Grand Jury, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch. 

Weiler was charged with 2 counts of production of child pornography, 1 count of receipt of child pornography, 1 count of possession of child pornography, 1 count of making a destructive device in violation of the National Firearms Act, and 1 count of possession of unregistered destructive devices.  

U.S. Attorney Kirsch said, “Crimes committed against children are particularly heinous.  Children are among the most innocent victims.  This case exemplifies how local and federal law enforcement agencies and state and federal prosecutor’s offices work together to investigate and prosecute cases involving children.  Additionally, this investigation was conducted very quickly, within two days of learning of Mr. Weiler’s conduct, he was taken into custody by the LaPorte City Police.  That is very quick work by both the LaPorte Police and LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office.  Explosives, like those allegedly manufactured and possessed by Mr. Weiler, are extremely dangerous and meant to do considerable harm.  My Office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who violate the nation’s destructive device and firearms laws.” 

Prosecuting Attorney Espar said, “The case is a shining example of the collaborative approach contemplated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Program, for the investigation and prosecution of crimes of violence against children, bringing local and federal law enforcement together in a collective effort to identify and apprehend violent criminals whose crimes neither respect the dignity of the individual or jurisdictional lines.”

According to documents in this case, on August 23, 2017, a person who lived near Weiler discovered that someone had run wires into the gas tank of that person’s car. On September18, 2017, investigators learned that Weiler allegedly had been accessing a vacant house next to the house of the person whose car had been wired to explode.  On the same date in September, investigators gained access to the vacant house and discovered writings on the walls inside documenting the writer’s attempts to acquire a girl under the age of twelve, ideally a newborn baby, for sexual contact.  On September 20, 2017, two incendiary devices were located inside Weiler’s house, one of which is commonly referred to as an improvised explosive device (IED), and the other of which is commonly referred to as a CO2 “cricket” bomb.  On September 21, 2017, multiple electronic devices and electronic storage devices were located inside Weiler’s house, some of which contained over 24,000 images and over 80 videos of child pornography.  The videos included Weiler allegedly engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of twelve.  Weiler’s electronic devices also contained videos of Weiler allegedly explaining the explosive device that he put in the gas tank of the car.   

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office, LaPorte Police Department, Michigan City Police Department and the Porter County Sheriff’s Department. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Molly E. Donnelly and John M. Maciejczyk.

The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty in court.

If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

 

###