INDIANAPOLIS — Two men have been sentenced to prison after drugging and sexually abusing a 15-year-old on camera.
Dustin Cox, 54, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 35 years after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child and conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child.
In June 2024, Zachary Nichols, 31, of Newton, Illinois, was sentenced to 42 years in prison for his role in sexually exploiting and abusing the child.
According to court documents, the two men conspired to sexually abuse and produce sexual images of a 15-year-old between February and September of 2020.
Cox is a repeat child sex offender and was convicted in 2004 for coercing a 14-year-old to perform sexual acts in exchange for a new bike. He was also Nichols' meth dealer in 2020.
The DOJ said Nichols sexually abused the victim for years. He started letting Cox sexually abuse the victim as well, in exchange for supplying him with meth.
The DOJ said on "multiple occasions" the two men recorded their sexual abuse of the victim, and the victim was "nearly incapacitated" because of the drug use.
“These heinous predators repeatedly sexually abused a child, incapacitated them with meth, and traded the victim’s body for drugs,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Our hearts go out to the survivor of these horrific abuses, and we hope this prosecution brings them some measure of peace. The lifelong trauma inflicted by these sick criminals merits federal prison sentences that will ensure that neither of them ever harms another child. Together with our partners at the FBI and IMPD, our office is committed aggressively prosecuting sex offenders who prey upon our children and removing them from our communities.”
Cox has been ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the victim and maintain his sex offender status upon release from prison. Nichols has been ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution.
“Every child deserves to be live and thrive in a safe environment without worry of harm and abuse. This sentence reflects the severity of this heinous offense and should put others on notice that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to hold accountable those who prey on our children,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton.
The FBI and IMPD investigated this case.
