BILLINGS, MT – Kole David Kuntz, 41, of Billings, Montana, has admitted to the vile act of distributing child pornography, the Department of Justice announced today. Kuntz pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of child pornography, a crime that will likely land him behind bars for a significant portion of his life.
According to court documents, the FBI initiated an undercover operation on November 16, 2024, establishing a fake social media profile portraying an adult male with a minor daughter. Almost immediately, an account linked to Kuntz reached out, expressing interest in the fictitious child. The conversations swiftly devolved into disturbing sexual inquiries. When informed the “daughter” was 12 years old, Kuntz allegedly stated he “could have a lot of fun with her.”
The depravity didn’t stop there. Kuntz steered the conversation towards a more secure messaging app on November 21st. To prove his “seriousness,” he sent a 45-second video depicting a girl, between 12 and 14 years of age, removing her swimsuit and exposing herself. The following day, November 22nd, Kuntz upped the ante, distributing a 56-second video of a minor female engaged in a sexual act with an adult, while also stating his preference for victims aged “6-14.”
Law enforcement swiftly connected the communications back to Kuntz, leading to the execution of a search warrant at his Billings residence. A forensic examination of his electronic devices confirmed the existence of the sickening exchanges. During questioning, Kuntz confessed to being the individual involved in the online communications and admitted to previously sharing similar images and videos.
Kuntz now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, and up to 20 years, in federal prison for each of the two counts. He is also looking at a potential $250,000 fine, a $35,000 special assessment, a $5,000 special assessment, and between 5 years and a lifetime of supervised release after his imprisonment. U.S. District Court Judge Susan P. Watters will determine the final sentence, taking into account sentencing guidelines and other relevant factors. He was released on conditions pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus is prosecuting the case, with the investigation led by the FBI. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 to combat the horrific epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood leverages federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute predators and rescue victims. More information on Project Safe Childhood can be found at Justice.gov/PSC.
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Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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