INDIANAPOLIS — A Colorado man who pleaded guilty to multiple counts of sexual exploitation of a child and a number of other charges has been sentenced to 84 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release.

According to John Childress, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Austin Ryan Lauless, 31, pleaded guilty in September to 13 counts of sexual exploitation of a child, five counts of sex trafficking a minor, two counts of advertising child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and possession of CSAM.

According to court documents, between late 2019 and May 19, 2023, Lauless used social media applications to coerce, exploit and threaten at least 84 minor victims into producing thousands of sexual explicit images and videos. The victims ranged in age from 13-17 at the time of the offenses.

Childress said 84 victims have been identified from nearly every state in the United States and at least five foreign countries. Investigators believe additional victims may still be unidentified, and Childress encourage anyone who has been a victim of Lauless, also known online as ‘Cason Fredrickson’ or ‘APOPHIS’, to contact their local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI or report it online at tips.fbi.gov.

Lauless’ criminal methods included misrepresenting his age, identity, background, and likeness to groom minors and create a false sense of safety in online communications. He also used voice modulators and third-party image and video applications to edit content, making it appear as though it was recorded live through social media platforms.

He feigned romantic interest in victims, told them they were attractive, and pretended to be in online relationships. He purchased items for many victims through online storefronts which he instructed them to wear while producing sexually explicit material.

According to court documents, Lauless threatened victims with dissemination of their images and videos if they failed to comply with his demands or sought help from parents or law enforcement. Lauless also trafficked at least five minor victims by forcing them to engage in and record intercouse with adult males. Lauless then advertised and sold the sexually explicit material on various platforms in at least 141 transactions.

“This case represents one of the most egregious forms of exploitation the FBI investigates,” said Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley of FBI Indianapolis Field 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. The FBI is committed to identifying offenders who use technology to abuse, manipulate, and control others, and to ensuring they are held fully accountable. Today’s sentence delivers justice for the victims and reinforces that these crimes will not go unanswered.”