SILVER SPRING, Md. (7News) — A Maryland man pled guilty to two counts of producing child sexual abuse material, commonly known as child pornography, in federal court on Wednesday, officials said.
Chase William Mulligan, 28, of Silver Spring, Maryland, pleaded guilty to coercing at least 108 girls to send him sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland (USAO-MD).
Mulligan met the girls, aged five to 17, through internet chat rooms and social media. When girls said they did not want to send any more sexual images, Mulligan threatened to post the abuse material online or come to the children’s houses, said USAO-MD.
Mulligan wanted the victims to send more images depicting increasingly graphic sexual conduct. Mulligan told minors to show their genital areas and engage in sexual conduct, said USAO-MD.
He coerced many girls to urinate on camera and insert objects into their genitalia. He forced them to take part in sexual acts with dogs, according to USAO-MD.
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“We must ensure that we send a clear message to Mulligan, and others, that those who abuse the most vulnerable members of our communities will pay a steep price,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Kelly Hayes.
Mulligan used multiple Snapchat, Discord, Roblox, Skype, Omegle, and Instagram accounts to target young girls between 2019 and 2023. He convinced minors living in the United States, Canada, Denmark, Spain, the Philippines, Australia, and the United Kingdom to produce and send him child sexual abuse material (CSAM) USAO-MD said.
“Chase Mulligan is a depraved and dangerous predator,” FBI Special Agent in Charge William DelBagno said. “He used social media to target, viciously threaten, and horribly abuse more than 100 minor victims – one as young as five years old.
“Despite his distance, he presents a serious threat to any child he can access through the internet,” said DelBagno.
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Mulligan must register as a sex offender in places where he lives, is an employee, and is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act as part of his plea agreement, according to USAO-MD.
Mulligan faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a statutory maximum of 60 years in federal prison, said USAO-MD.
U.S. District Judge Theodore C. Chuang scheduled sentencing for August 27, 2025.
