ZIONSVILLE, Ind — An Indiana investigation caught the man behind an international child sex trafficking operation that used social media and sextortion to force at least 68 children to produce child porn that he sold online.

On Thursday, Sept. 4, Austin Ryan Lauless pleaded guilty to 13 counts of sexual exploitation of a child, five counts of sex trafficking of a minor, two counts of advertising child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography in federal court in Indianapolis.

The maximum sentence for his crimes could be more than 400 years in prison.

His plea came almost exactly three years after the investigation started.

To stream 13 WTHR on your phone, you need the 13 WTHR app.

Next up in 5

Example video title will go here for this video

Next up in 5

Example v

See Full Page