Wyoming man pleads guilty to child pornography production

BILLINGS - A Sheridan, Wyoming man accused of producing child pornography admitted to charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.

The defendant, Zachary Dean Schifferns, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years, a maximum term of 30 years, a $250,000 fine, and five years to lifetime supervised release. Schifferns also pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing will be set at a later time. Schifferns was detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that on December 25, 2024, law enforcement in Rosebud County interviewed John Doe 1, then a 14-year-old male. John Doe 1 said about two weeks earlier Schifferns added John Doe 1 on a social media application. Schifferns told John Doe 1 he had an interest in boys aged 12-15. John Doe 1 explained Schifferns asked him for nude images and sent him a picture of his (Schifferns') penis. At Schifferns' urging, John Doe 1 said he sent Schifferns a picture of his abs and penis but then contended he photoshopped a picture of a penis he found on the internet onto his body to send to Schifferns.

Investigation into Schifferns' electronic media led to the discovery of dozens of images and videos of child pornography. This included content depicting children 12 years of age or younger engaged in sexually explicit conduct. A review of Schifferns' social media account contained communication between Schifferns and John Doe 1, among others. In the communications with John Doe 1, Schifferns solicitated child pornography from John Doe 1 and offered money to have sex with him.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The FBI, Rosebud County Sheriff's Office and Big Horn County Sheriff's Office conducted the investigation.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

XXX