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Defendant Sentenced to 84 Years in Nationwide Child Exploitation Case
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – A 31-year-old Colorado man has been sentenced to 84 years in federal prison for his role in a nationwide child exploitation case that affected victims across the U.S. and abroad.
Austin Ryan Lauless, also known online as Cason Fredrickson or APOPHIS, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to 13 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child, 5 counts of Sex Trafficking of a Minor, two counts of Advertising Child Sexual Abuse Material, and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material.
As of December 17, 2025, a total of 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.
Lauless used social media applications such as Instagram, Snapchat, Discord, Yubo, Purp, and others to coerce, exploit, and threaten at least 84 minor victims into producing thousands of sexually explicit images and videos.
Using these social media platforms, Lauless misrepresented his identity, posing as “Cason Fredrickson,” a teenager from New York or other cities. In reality, Lauless was in his late 20s, unemployed, and living in hotels and motels in Texas and Colorado.
“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,” said John Childress, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Austin Lauless orchestrated a campaign of abuse that spanned nearly every state and multiple countries, leaving behind profound harm.”
The investigation into Lauless’s activities began in late 2019 and continued until May 19, 2023. During this time, Lauless obtained thousands of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse, some of which were produced by the victims themselves.
Lauless advertised and sold the sexually explicit material on platforms such as Discord, Instagram, Telegram, and MEGA, engaging in at least 141 transactions, receiving payment through Venmo, PayPal, Bitcoin, and CashApp.
“While no punishment can erase the trauma these young survivors endured, today’s sentence sends a clear message: we will pursue predators across the nation and bring them to justice,” said John Childress.
Defendant: Austin Ryan Lauless
Criminal Charges: 13 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child, 5 counts of Sex Trafficking of a Minor, two counts of Advertising Child Sexual Abuse Material, and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material
City and State: Indianapolis, IN
Exact Date: September 2025 (plea), December 17, 2025 (victims identified)
Sentence: 84 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release
Funds Used: None
Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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