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A Michigan anesthesiologist has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of distribution of child pornography, and it is recommended he spend 151 to 188 months in prison. Joel Michael Adelsberg, 36, who has practiced medicine since March 2016 and was affiliated with Anesthesia Associates of Ann Arbor (A4) and Trinity Health -- Ann Arbor Campus, admitted in federal court to distributing child sexual abuse material, according to prosecutors’ filings. He pleaded guilty in February 2025 to one count of distribution of child pornography under a plea agreement. Accusations A forensic review of four phones recovered during a search turned up at least 106 videos and 49 images of child sexual abuse material, which included depictions of prepubescent minors under the age of 12 -- including toddlers -- as well as “sadistic and/or masochistic conduct,” sexual assault, bestiality, and bondage. According to the pre-sentence report and Michigan State Police records, in late 2022, Adelsberg had a sexually charged online conversation with a then-15-year-old. Prosecutors said Adelsberg asked for nude images, acknowledged he was speaking with someone underage, and complimented images apparently sent to him. The record quotes him saying, “I don’t like sending face to underage girls.” In October 2023, it’s also alleged that Adelsberg used the social media application “Kik” and the internet and knew “that the child pornography he distributed included an image of an adult woman’s face posed next to the exposed genitals of an approximately 6- to 8-year-old girl.” Court documents also revealed that Adelsberg’s primary cellphone also showed an image of the adult woman performing oral sex on the minor girl. Federal investigators say in February 2024, they also found Adelsberg in possession of “at least” 106 videos and 49 images of child pornography across four different cellphones. The child pornography in Adelsberg’s collection included depictions of prepubescent minors under the age of 12, including toddlers, as well as “sadistic and/or masochistic conduct.” On Aug. 7, 2024, federal prosecutors filed a motion to seal the indictment and arrest warrant against Adelsberg, citing concerns that public disclosure could lead to flight risk, destruction of evidence, and witness intimidation. Adelsberg later admitted to engaging in what he called “fantasy” chats in which users said they were underage, that he had child sexually abusive material on his phone, and that he had “10 to 20 conversations with underage girls throughout his life.” Sentencing guidelines The U.S. Probation Office calculated Adelsberg’s sentencing guidelines range from 151 to 188 months in prison. In its memorandum, prosecutors described the offense as particularly grave. “The defendant committed one of the most serious and offensive crimes acknowledged by the law by sharing CSAM online,” the filing says, noting that victims are re-victimized each time images or videos are shared. The government also emphasized that Adelsberg’s conduct included soliciting nude images from a teen, and that he admitted to having conversations with other minors, suggesting his predatory behavior was “far more extensive.” The filings also include details about Adelsberg’s personal and professional background. The pre-sentence report notes he grew up in a stable home, pursued higher education and a medical career, and earned a substantial income. Prosecutors argued those facts do not mitigate the conduct, noting that while Adelsberg had some engagement with mental health and sex-offense treatment, he sought help only after his arrest. If the court follows the government’s recommendation, Adelsberg would face a sentence at the low end of the 151- to 188-month range and financial penalties, including restitution and special assessments. “The plea agreement requires that [Adelsberg] will have to register as a sex offender,” said Gina Balaya with the US Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Michigan. Adelsberg is scheduled to be sentenced next week. Statements Anesthesia Associates of Ann Arbor said it was unaware of the sealed indictment until it was unsealed and that Adelsberg failed to disclose the proceedings as required by their policies. The group said it “conducted an internal review and immediately terminated his employment,” adding, “Anesthesia Associates of Ann Arbor is committed to the highest ethical and professional standards. We were completely unaware of the proceedings against Dr. Joel Adelsberg, as he failed to disclose them per our policies. Because the indictment was under seal, we did not know about the investigation until it was unsealed. Upon learning of the plea deal, we conducted an internal review and immediately terminated his employment. Our top priority remains the safety and well-being of our patients and the trust they place in our care. We will continue to uphold the integrity of our medical practice and the standards expected of our physicians and staff.” Trinity Health Michigan said it first became aware of the plea deal on March 7, 2025, and that it terminated his medical staff privileges the same day, “We were shocked to learn of the indictment and the plea deal against this individual, who has never been an employee of our health system. We had no knowledge of the charges against him. We took immediate action to terminate his medical staff privileges and bar him from our facilities the same day we were made aware of this matter. The health and safety of our patients and colleagues are of the utmost importance to us,” the system said. McLaren Greater Lansing said Adelsberg was not credentialed there and was not a member of its medical staff, adding that he “only trained as a resident at the hospital, leaving after his graduation in July 2020.” Previous coverage
