Indianapolis conductor, composer facing 10 charges after allegedly using cryptocurrency company to buy child porn
Julian Wachner allegedly told police that his specific preference was child sex abuse material involving children between the ages of 6 and 13.
INDIANAPOLIS — A conductor and composer living in Indianapolis allegedly admitted to using cryptocurrency hundreds of times to buy child porn, according to court documents.
Julian Wachner, 55, has been charged with 10 counts of possession of child sex abuse material and possession of cocaine.
The investigation into Wachner started on Aug. 8, 2025, when Robinhood, a finance company that handles cryptocurrency transactions, notified authorities that one of its users was using their app to buy child pornography.
According to court documents, Robinhood reported to police that Wachner transferred cryptocurrency from Robinhood to a specific dark website – which is part of the web that is intentionally hidden and not found using standard search engines – that is known to be a major provider of child sex abuse material.
Court documents say the “suspicious activity” on Wachner’s Robinhood account happened between Aug. 22, 2024 and Feb. 14, 2025. Wachner spent $840 during three separate transactions.
In an interview with police, court documents say Wachner admitted visiting the dark website. He said that he bought cryptocurrency through Robinhood and then transferred that cryptocurrency to the dark website to buy tokens. He would then use those tokens “hundreds of times” to buy content from the dark website.
Court documents say Wachner admitted that he knew the dark website distributed child sex abuse material.
Wachner allegedly told police over the last several years he had downloaded and deleted child sex abuse material that he got from the dark web.
Court documents say Wachner had an external hard drive that had all of the child sex abuse material he had on his laptop downloaded onto.
Wachner allegedly told police the child sex abuse material he had depicted minors between the ages of 1 to 16.
According to court documents, Wachner told police that his specific preference was material involving children between the ages of 6 and 13.
Court documents say Wachner also told police that he had a stash of cocaine next to his laptop.
Police recovered Wachner’s laptop, the hard drive and cocaine.
“The allegations in this case include the horrifying and unimaginable sexual abuse of children, including infants,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said. “We will aggressively prosecute the defendant’s alleged purchase and possession of disturbing child sex abuse material.”
“The exploitation of children is one of the most disturbing crimes our detectives investigate,” said IMPD Chief Chris Bailey. “We will continue to work with our partners to protect children and hold those who exploit them accountable.”
According to internet archives, Wachner was listed as a fourth-grade math teacher at Invent Learning Hub.
13News reached out multiple times to the school for a statement but one was never given.
“I think that’s one of the most disturbing parts of the allegations, is that this individual had access to kids, and he very clearly, in the probable cause affidavit, is alleged to have said that he has a preference for a certain age of child, and he was around those kids at school,” Mears said.
Child victim advocates say the charges Wachner is facing are disturbing.
“Maybe the most disturbing part of the allegations involve the fact that he has admitted a couple of things,” said Zero Abuse founder Kristina Korobov. “According to the probable cause affidavit, he admitted that he’s been engaged in this conduct for years, and he admitted that he would sometimes delete the material.”
“Both of those things would indicate a person who knows that the conduct is wrong but continues to do it,” Korobov said.
Wachner’s career
According to the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Wachner is a multi-Grammy-nominated conductor, composer and keyboardist.
Wachner’s bio on the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra’s website says he was named one of Musical America’s Top 30 Professionals of 2018.
On Wachner’s website, his catalogue includes compositions for orchestral, opera, choral-orchestral, chamber, solo vocal and Christmas arrangements.
Wachner’s website lists six compositions available for purchase, as well as 13 conducting albums.