Billings, MT – In a chilling turn of justice, Kole David Kuntz, 41, has pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography. U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced the charges against Kuntz, who faces a daunting sentence for his heinous crimes.
The defendant, identified as Kuntz, admitted to two counts of distribution of child pornography, each carrying a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison. He also faces a fine of $250,000, special assessments totaling $40,000, and up to a lifetime of supervised release.
The proceedings were presided over by U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan, with U.S. District Court Judge Susan P. Watters set to determine the final sentence after considering guidelines and other factors. Kuntz was released on conditions pending further legal action.
According to court documents, law enforcement conducted an undercover operation on social media. They posed as a parent of a minor daughter, leading to communications with Kuntz that became increasingly explicit. He expressed his desire for the fictitious child and later distributed videos involving minors.
A search warrant was executed at Kuntz’s residence in Billings, resulting in the discovery of the illegal communications and additional evidence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case, with the FBI leading the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Justice Department initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse on the internet. For more information, visit 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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