Ryan Austin Lauless, 31, of Colorado, has pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges involving the sexual exploitation and trafficking of minors. According to court documents, Lauless used social media platforms including Instagram, Snapchat, Discord, Yubo, and Purp between late 2019 and May 2023 to coerce at least 68 minors into producing explicit images and videos. The victims were aged between 13 and 16 and lived across nearly every state in the U.S., as well as in at least five foreign countries.
Lauless misrepresented his identity online by posing as a teenager named “Cason Fredrickson” from New York or other cities. In reality, he was in his late twenties, unemployed, and living in hotels in Texas and Colorado. He accessed public Instagram pages without consent to use images for his false persona.
His methods included using voice modulators and editing tools to make interactions appear live on social media. Lauless also pretended to have romantic relationships with victims and sent them gifts through Amazon such as clothing and devices he instructed them to use while creating explicit content.
To maintain control over his victims and prolong the abuse, Lauless threatened to distribute their images if they did not comply or if they considered seeking help. At least one victim expressed suicidal thoughts during these exchanges.
In addition to exploiting children online, Lauless sex trafficked at least five minors by forcing them into sexual acts with adults while recording these encounters for commercial purposes. Some victims were subjected to sadomasochistic abuse under his direction.
After obtaining the material from victims, Lauless advertised it for sale on various platforms including Discord, Instagram, Telegram, and MEGA. He completed at least 141 transactions using payment services like Venmo, PayPal, Bitcoin, and CashApp. His collection included content involving prepubescent children as well as bestiality.
“Thanks to the courage of these victims and the dedication of our law enforcement partners, we are one step closer to justice. Exploiting children is one of the most reprehensible crimes, often going unnoticed by those closest to the victims,” said First Assistant United States Attorney John E. Childress. “In today’s digital age, predators use sophisticated tactics to target our kids and manipulate them into feeling trapped and ashamed. I urge parents and caregivers to have open, honest conversations with children in their lives to help stop this abuse before it starts.”
“Protecting children from online predators is a responsibility we all share,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy O’Malley. “Crimes that target and exploit children are among the most egregious we investigate, and they too often remain unseen until it is too late. We urge parents to stay engaged, talk with their children, and remain vigilant. The FBI’s mission is clear: we will relentlessly pursue those who prey on children, hold them accountable, and stand with victims every step of the way.”
“Today’s guilty plea is a stark reminder of the dangers our children face online. This defendant exploited the trust and vulnerability of children through social media, committing acts of unimaginable cruelty,” said Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood on behalf of the C.A.S.E Task Force. “We will continue to pursue these cases relentlessly, and we remain committed to supporting survivors and holding predators fully accountable.”
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) along with Boone County’s Child Abuse and Sexual Exploitation (CASE) Task Force—with support from organizations such as the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) https://www.missingkids.org/—and assistance from Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force programs https://www.icactaskforce.org/.
Lauless could face up to life imprisonment when sentenced by a U.S District Judge.
The CASE Task Force was formed in 2023 specifically for investigating internet-based child exploitation cases within Boone County law enforcement agencies.
Assistant U.S Attorneys Tiffany Preston and Carolyn Haney are prosecuting this case.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood https://www.justice.gov/psc/about-project-safe-childhood-psc—a national initiative launched by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation through coordinated efforts among federal prosecutors’ offices like U.S Attorney’s Offices—and local agencies.
If you are a victim or know someone affected by child sexual exploitation or abuse resources can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood.
