Chase William Mulligan, a 28-year-old resident of Silver Spring, Maryland, has pled guilty to two counts of producing child sexual abuse material in a federal court. The charges are related to a scheme where he manipulated young girls through social media and internet chat rooms, coercing them into sending sexually explicit content.
Mulligan targeted at least 108 minors aged between 5 and 17 years old. When the victims attempted to stop sending images, Mulligan threatened to post the content online or visit their homes.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Kelly O. Hayes, announced the guilty plea alongside Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno from the FBI's Baltimore Field Office. Hayes emphasized the commitment to prosecuting those who exploit vulnerable community members: “Mulligan used manipulation, fear, and intimidation to exploit over 100 young victims... We’re committed to working with our law-enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue, prosecute, and bring to justice those who engage in these deplorable acts.”
DelBagno described Mulligan as a "depraved and dangerous predator," noting his use of social media platforms like Snapchat, Discord, Roblox, Skype, Omegle, and Instagram to target victims across several countries including the United States, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Philippines, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
The plea agreement outlines that between 2019 and December 2023, Mulligan coerced minors into creating sexually explicit images and engaging in inappropriate conduct. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years with a maximum potential sentence of 60 years in federal prison. Sentencing is scheduled for August 27 by U.S. District Judge Theodore C. Chuang.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood initiated by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. More information about this initiative can be found on www.justice.gov/psc.
U.S. Attorney Hayes acknowledged the FBI's role in investigating this case and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan S. McKoy and Elizabeth Wright for their prosecution efforts.
For further details on resources provided by the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office or community outreach programs available visit www.justice.gov/usao-md.
