Guilty plea exposes scale of child exploitation by Colorado predator

By Heather Willard | Fox 31

DENVER (KDVR) — A 31-year-old man from Colorado pleaded guilty this month in Indiana to dozens of counts related to sextortion of at least 68 children through social media and sex trafficking of at least five of those children.

Ryan Austin Lauless, 31, of Colorado, pleaded guilty on Sept. 4 to 21 counts of sexual exploitation of a child, five counts of sex trafficking of a minor, two counts of noticing and advertising child sexual abuse material and possession of child sexual abuse material, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.

Prosecutors say that Lauless used social media apps between late 2019 and May 19, 2023, to coerce, sexually exploit and threaten at least 68 minor victims into producing thousands of sexually explicit images and videos. The prosecution said victims of Lauless ranged from 13 to 16 at the time of the offenses, living in nearly every state of the U.S. and in at least five foreign countries.

“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, in a release. “We will continue to pursue these cases relentlessly, and we remain committed to supporting survivors and holding predators fully accountable.”

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