GREENBELT, MD – A Silver Spring man has been sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for orchestrating an extensive online child exploitation scheme that targeted more than 100 minors across multiple countries, federal prosecutors announced.
U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang handed down the sentence to Chase William Mulligan, 28, on two counts of producing child sexual abuse material. Following his release, Mulligan will remain under 25 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender for life.
According to court filings, between 2019 and December 2023, Mulligan used numerous social media and gaming platforms — including Snapchat, Discord, Roblox, Skype, Omegle, and Instagram — to contact and coerce children between the ages of 5 and 17. Prosecutors said Mulligan manipulated at least 108 victims worldwide, convincing them to send sexually explicit photos and videos, then using those materials to extort additional content through threats and intimidation.
Prosecutors detail pattern of coercion and threats
Investigators found that Mulligan posed as a teenager to gain victims’ trust before escalating his demands. When victims tried to stop communicating, he threatened to post their images publicly or appear at their homes. Federal prosecutors said his victims were located throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region, including Denmark, Spain, the Philippines, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes and FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul announced the sentence, crediting federal agents and digital forensic experts for dismantling what they described as one of the most expansive “sextortion” operations prosecuted in Maryland.
“This defendant preyed upon the most vulnerable members of society — children — through deception, manipulation, and terror,” Hayes said in a statement. “The lengthy sentence ensures that he will never again harm another child.”
Key points:
- Chase William Mulligan, 28, sentenced to 50 years in prison for producing child sexual abuse material.
- He targeted at least 108 minors worldwide through social media and gaming platforms.
- Mulligan faces 25 years of supervised release and lifetime sex offender registration.
FBI warns of growing online sextortion trend
The FBI Baltimore Field Office emphasized that child “sextortion” cases have surged in recent years, often involving perpetrators who impersonate peers online to obtain illicit content from minors. Authorities urged parents and guardians to closely monitor children’s digital communications and report suspicious activity immediately.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative targeting child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Federal officials say the case underscores the ongoing threat of online predators exploiting children through digital platforms.