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 e xploitation 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 included specialized clothing and devices, which were shipped directly to the victims or designated lockers. In order to maintain control over his victims, Lauless threatened to share their images and videos, threatening them with severe consequences if they sought help or refused to comply with his demands. At least one victim communicated feeling suicidal due to the ongoing abuse. The extent of Lauless’ criminal enterprise was further underscored by the fact that he trafficked at least five minor victims, forcing them to engage in sexual acts with adult males. He recorded and sold footage from these acts on multiple online platforms including Discord and Instagram, engaging in more than 141 transactions for profit. The case was described as one of the most egregious forms of exploitation by Timothy J. O’Malley, the FBI special agent in charge of the Indianapolis office. “This was not an isolated crime – it was a nationwide and international campaign of exploitation that victimized at least 84 people, including children and involved the trafficking of human beings,” O’Malley said. John Childress, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “The sheer scale of this investigation and prosecution underscores the relentless commitment of federal law enforcement to dismantle networks of exploitation that prey on our children.” He noted that Lauless’ actions have left “profound harm” across numerous states and countries. The investigation continues, with authorities alerting the public to report any additional victims or information relating to Lauless’ activities. Individuals seeking help can reach out to their local FBI field office or call 1-800-CALL-FBI. This story was created from a script aired on WISH-TV. This story was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews and edits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness. ...read more read less