Man sentenced to 84 years in nationwide child exploitation case; 84 victims identified

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A Colorado man has been sentenced to 84 years in federal prison in a nationwide child exploitation case, which includes 84 identified victims.

Austin Ryan Lauless, 31, of Colorado, has been sentenced to 84 years in federal prison for numerous charges including sexual exploitation of a child and sex trafficking of a minor. With 84 victims identified across nearly every state and at least five foreign countries, Lauless’ actions have sparked a widespread investigation.

Lauless pleaded guilty in September 2025 to 13 counts of sexual exploitation of a child, five counts of sex trafficking of a minor, two counts of advertising child sexual abuse material, and possession of child sexual abuse material. The offenses occurred between late 2019 and May 19, 2023, during which Lauless utilized various social media platforms to exploit minors.

Lauless used popular social media applications like Instagram, Snapchat, Discord, and others to coerce and threaten at least 84 minor victims, ranging in age from 13 to 17. He misrepresented his identity by posing as “Cason Fredrickson,” a fictional teenager from New York, and used images of real individuals to groom victims.

Investigators have identified Lauless as someone who feigned romantic interest in his victims, often sending them gifts through Amazon to encourage the production of sexually explicit material. Items purchased in...