A Colorado man was sentenced to 84 years in federal prison for a slew of charges relating to the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children.

Austin Lauless, 31, pleaded guilty in September to 13 counts of sexual exploitation of a child, five counts of sex trafficking of a minor, and two counts of advertising child sexual abuse material and possession of that material, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

“This case represents one of the most egregious forms of exploitation the FBI investigates,” Special Agent in Charge Timothy O’Malley of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office said in a news release. “This was not an isolated crime – it was a nationwide and international campaign of exploitation that victimized at least 84 people, including children, and involved the trafficking of human beings.”

Between 2019 and 2023, Lauless used social media apps such as Instagram, Snapchat and Discord to pose as “Cason Fredrickson,” a teenager from New York or other cities, according to the release. In that role, he coerced and threatened at least 84 minors ages 13 to 17 into taking thousands of explicit photos and videos, authorities said.

Part of Lauless’ tactics included using voice modulators and editing videos to make them appear as if they were recorded live on those social media apps, according to authorities. He told his victims that he was romantically interested in them and bought them items through Amazon, including fishnet stockings, custom t-shirts and sexual devices. He told them to use the items while producing the explicit material, authorities said.

After he received the content, Lauless advertised and sold it on platforms, such as Discord, Instagram and Telegram, engaging in at least 141 transactions and getting paid for the content through Venmo, PayPal, Bitcoin and CashApp, authorities said.

The man told investigators that his collection of the material included thousands of photos and videos of prepubescent children engaged in explicit content.

Lauless also trafficked at least five children, forcing them to engage in sex with adult men and produce videos of the acts, according to authorities.

“Austin Lauless orchestrated a campaign of abuse that spanned nearly every state and multiple countries, leaving behind profound harm,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Childress for the Southern District of Indiana said in the news release.

The FBI conducted the investigation and U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker imposed the sentence, according to the release. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany Preston and Carolyn Haney prosecuted the case.

Thirteen U.S. attorney’s offices cooperated with the probe, including those in Iowa, Missouri, Florida, Texas, Kentucky, Ohio, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Colorado, California, Arizona and Tennessee.