Billings Man Sentenced to 9 Years for Distributing Child Pornography

BILLINGS — A Billings man was sentenced to nine years in federal prison Tuesday for distributing child pornography through social media, marking the latest in a series of federal prosecutions targeting online child exploitation in Montana.

Kole David Kuntz, 41, pleaded guilty in July to two counts of distribution of child pornography. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters also ordered five years of supervised release following his prison term.

The case began in November 2024 when law enforcement created an undercover online persona on a social media site posing as an adult male with a minor daughter. Shortly after establishing the account, another account later attributed to Kuntz reached out and inquired about the fictitious daughter.

“The conversations became increasingly sexual,” according to court documents. When Kuntz learned the “daughter” was 12 years old, he indicated he “could have a lot of fun with her.”

On Nov. 21, 2024, Kuntz recommended they switch to a more secure application. To prove he was “serious,” Kuntz sent a roughly 45-second video of a female between the ages of 12 and 14 removing her swimsuit and exposing herself to the camera.

The following day, after additional communications during which Kuntz indicated that “6-14 is the money range I think,” he distributed a roughly 56-second video of a minor female performing oral sex on an adult.

Law enforcement connected the communications to Kuntz and searched his residence in Billings. A review of his electronic media led to the discovery of the communications as well as additional child pornography.

Kuntz was interviewed by law enforcement and admitted he was the individual referenced in the communications and that he had previously shared images and videos.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet.

The sentencing comes two months after a Billings registered sex offender was convicted of attempting to obtain nude photos from someone he believed was a 12-year-old girl. In September, a former juvenile probation officer received more than 24 years in federal prison for a 31-year pattern of sexual abuse across Montana reservations.