Billings Registered Sex Offender Convicted After Using Gift Cards to Solicit Child Images Online

BILLINGS — A registered sex offender from Billings was convicted Tuesday of attempting to obtain nude photos from someone he believed was a 12-year-old girl, highlighting ongoing challenges in preventing repeat offenses in the digital age.

Steven Dwayne Scott, 51, was found guilty by a federal jury of attempted coercion and enticement and possession of child pornography after a one-and-a-half-day trial in Billings Federal District Court. The conviction came despite Scott being a registered sex offender from a 1997 South Dakota conviction for sexual abuse of a minor.

Digital Predator Tactics

Court evidence revealed Scott’s sophisticated approach to targeting what he believed was a minor victim. Beginning in March 2024, Scott accepted a Facebook friend request from an undercover FBI agent posing as a 12-year-old girl. When the conversations became explicit, Scott moved the communications to KIK, a messaging app known for its anonymity features.

“During the chats, Scott was put on notice of the ‘child’s’ age, indicated he should not be talking to her yet continued, and sought pictures of her, including nude pictures,” according to the Department of Justice press release.

Scott’s tactics escalated to financial incentives. On May 21, 2024, he sent images of a gift card as payment for nude photos, providing detailed instructions on how to verify the card’s value. Six days later, he sent a $25 Amazon gift card for the same purpose.

Pattern of Repeat Offenses

The case exposed a troubling pattern of behavior spanning decades. Beyond his 1997 conviction, Scott had previously engaged in similar conduct as recently as 2018, when he corresponded online with multiple juvenile females.

A law enforcement investigation stemming from one victim’s disclosure led to a search warrant of Scott’s Snapchat account, revealing “sexually explicit images” of another minor victim.

“When law enforcement reached out to Scott, he was a registered sex offender,” prosecutors noted, underscoring how the existing monitoring system failed to prevent his continued predatory behavior online.

System Monitoring Challenges

Scott’s case illustrates the difficulties law enforcement faces in monitoring registered sex offenders’ online activities. Despite being in the system for more than two decades, Scott was able to use multiple social media platforms to target minors.

The investigation was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. The program “marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet.”

Growing Pattern in Montana

Scott’s conviction represents the latest in a series of federal child exploitation cases prosecuted in Montana this year. In September, a 71-year-old Arizona man with ties to Missoula pleaded not guilty to similar charges in Missoula Federal District Court.

In July, a Martin City man pleaded guilty to producing and distributing child pornography involving a 6-year-old he babysat, highlighting how predators often target children in their care.

Sentencing and Penalties

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters scheduled sentencing for January 8, 2026. Scott faces 10 years to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and five years to lifetime supervised release on both counts of conviction. He remains detained pending sentencing.

The FBI conducted the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.