Ryan Austin Lauless, 31, of Colorado, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges involving the sexual exploitation and trafficking of minors. The plea includes 21 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child, five counts of Sex Trafficking of a Minor, two counts related to advertising child sexual abuse material, and possession of such material.
Court documents state that between late 2019 and May 2023, Lauless used various social media platforms—including Instagram, Snapchat, Discord, Yubo, and Purp—to coerce at least 68 minors into producing sexually explicit images and videos. The victims were aged between 13 and 16 and lived across nearly every U.S. state as well as in at least five foreign countries.
Lauless reportedly misrepresented his identity online by posing as “Cason Fredrickson,” claiming to be a teenager from New York or other cities. In reality, he was in his late twenties and living in hotels in Texas and Colorado. He used images taken from another individual’s public Instagram account without their knowledge to further this deception.
According to authorities, Lauless employed tactics such as voice modulators and editing tools to make his communications appear authentic. He also feigned romantic interest in his victims and sent them gifts purchased through Amazon—including clothing items he instructed them to wear while creating explicit content.
To maintain control over the victims and prolong the exploitation, Lauless threatened to distribute their images if they did not comply with his demands or sought help. At least one victim reported suicidal thoughts during these interactions.
Lauless also forced at least five minor victims into sex trafficking by compelling them to engage in sexual acts with adults while recording these incidents for commercial purposes. Some victims were subjected to sadomasochistic abuse under his direction.
After obtaining explicit materials from the minors, Lauless advertised them for sale on platforms like Discord, Instagram, Telegram, and MEGA. Authorities say he conducted at least 141 transactions using payment methods such as Venmo, PayPal, Bitcoin, and CashApp. His collection included depictions of prepubescent children involved in illegal acts.
“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 case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) along with Boone County's Child Abuse and Sexual Exploitation (CASE) Task Force—with assistance from agencies including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) https://www.missingkids.org/home—and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany Preston and Carolyn Haney.
The CASE Task Force was formed in 2023 by several Boone County law enforcement agencies—such as sheriff's offices; prosecutor's offices; Lebanon Police Department; Whitestown Police Department; Zionsville Police Department—to support investigations into internet-based child exploitation offenses.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood https://www.justice.gov/psc/about-project-safe-childhood-initiative—a national initiative launched by the Department of Justice aimed at fighting child sexual exploitation through coordinated federal-state-local efforts.
Lauless faces up to life imprisonment when sentenced by a U.S District Judge at a later date.
Victims seeking resources can visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood or contact local police departments for assistance.
