It's hard to understand these kinds of stories. In December 2025, a federal court gave Austin Ryan Lauless, a 31-year-old man from Colorado, 84 years in jail.
This happened after he confessed to conducting a massive operation that involves taking advantage of dozens of kids online, getting them to give him pornographic images and videos, and then selling that material to other people.
“This case really highlights how dangerous the internet can be for kids these days.
Prosecutors claimed this was one of the most common examples they've seen, with victims in the US and even in other nations.
How Lauless Used Fake Profiles to Target and Coerce Young Victims
At the time, Lauless lived in Colorado and constructed phony identities on prominent social networking platforms to act like an adolescent. He would chat to girls, usually between the ages of 13 and 17, and gain their trust before things went bad. He would tell the victims' families, friends, or schools that he would send them the early photographs or videos he got unless they gave him more—and typically more extreme—content. This is a classic case of sextortion, when the predator utilizes terror to keep the victim in line.
Lauless didn't only collect the things; he turned them into a company by selling the movies and images online using Venmo, PayPal, Bitcoin, Cash App, and other payment methods. Officials claim he made at least 141 agreements like this.
It's hard to believe the numbers in this case. There were 84 casualties in total, and they came from almost every state in the US and a few other nations.
The judge handed the 84-year sentence by giving one year in prison for each victim who was known. This was a way to show how serious the crime was for every single child he hurt. Judge Sarah Evans Barker wanted to make sure the punishment matched the huge amount of damage done to all those young lives.
And that's not even counting the victims who haven't spoken forward yet. The police and the FBI are asking anyone else who might have been a target to come forward right away. They believe there could be more people out there who were contacted by Lauless using his fake names or on those apps.
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Online Aliases and Platforms Used in the Exploitation Scheme
He used fictitious names online, such "Cason Fredrickson" or "APOPHIS," which sounds like a bad guy from a cartoon, but the truth was very real.
He went after Snapchat, Discord, Instagram, and applications like Yubo and Purp that kids use to meet new people.
Unfortunately, predators take advantage of capabilities in these apps, such as deleting messages and talking without providing their name.
People report that Lauless was unemployed and that this was how he made money online. It's a very scary method to use kids' weaknesses to get what you want.
Lauless acknowledged to a number of significant crimes in September 2025. These included 13 counts of sexually abusing a child, five counts of trafficking a minor for sex, and other crimes relating to compulsion and exchanging child sexual abuse material.
The Sentencing and Impact on Victims
He didn't have to go through a full trial because he pleaded guilty, but the court in Indianapolis nonetheless went over the horrible circumstances of the case.
U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker gave him 84 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. This means that he will constantly be observed, even if he somehow lives longer than the period (which is improbable considering he is old).
This is a clear example of how unsafe the internet can be for youngsters these days. Parents don't always know how to keep up with all the websites and apps their kids use.
Lauless and other predators know how to blend in with the crowd. He wasn't a hacker with a lot of cool tools; he basically lied and tricked people.
But the fact that 84 people have been confirmed as victims makes it stand out. A lot of these youngsters were left traumatized and had to deal with humiliation, worry, and the fear that their photographs are still on the dark web.
Investigation and Broader Societal Issues
He didn't have to go through a full trial because he pleaded guilty, but the court in Indianapolis nonetheless went over the horrible circumstances of the case.
U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker gave him 84 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. This means that he will constantly be observed, even if he somehow lives longer than the period (which is improbable considering he is old).
This is a clear example of how unsafe the internet can be for youngsters these days. Parents don't always know how to keep up with all the websites and apps their kids use.
Lauless and other predators know how to blend in with the crowd. He wasn't a hacker with a lot of cool tools; he basically lied and tricked people.
But the fact that 84 people have been confirmed as victims makes it stand out. A lot of these youngsters were left traumatized and had to deal with humiliation, worry, and the fear that their photographs are still on the dark web.
Prevention and the Path Forward
To get others to trust them, predators may pretend to be friends, love interests, or even renowned people. Once they acquire enough that could injure you, they start saying things like "Send more or I'll ruin your life."
There were more than a few strange occurrences that happened at Lauless's firm; they were all part of a pattern. He'd put together files for each victim, make requests that got worse with time, and even tell them what positions or actions he desired by saying things like "you know what I like."
People have complained that tech corporations haven't done enough to stop this from happening. There are still some weaknesses in the safety mechanisms on Snapchat and other platforms that let the police know about bad activity.
It will take a long time for the people who were hurt to recover better. A lot of folks don't say anything at first because they're afraid of what might happen.
The consequences are severe, and this sentence makes it obvious that federal prosecutors are going after these crooks hard. In the last few years, we've seen such hefty sentences in famous sextortion instances. It's crucial to know what's going to happen in the future. The tragedy of Austin Ryan Lauless is both sad and angry. In the end, it's a terrible reminder that we need to keep the most vulnerable people safe online. No child should ever have to go through what these 84 kids did.
Sophia Lee
Investigative Journalist
Sophia Lee is an investigative reporter focusing on uncovering corruption, government malpractice, and corporate scandals. She has written multiple high-profile exposés and is dedicated to revealing the truth behind complex cases.
