Red Lodge man pleads guilty to child pornography charges

BILLINGS - A Red Lodge man who was under investigation for drugs and was found with images and videos depicting sexually explicit conduct involving children admitted to charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.

The defendant, Jeremy Dean Ruby, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. Ruby faces 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years to a lifetime of supervised release.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing has been set for August 26, 2026. Ruby remained detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that from approximately July 2024 through March 2025 law enforcement officers collected information connecting Ruby to the distribution of illegal drugs. As such, on March 20, 2025, a search warrant was executed on Ruby's residence in connection with a narcotics investigation. His cellular phone was collected.

On or about March 27, 2025, law enforcement searched Ruby's phone in connection with the drug investigation. During the review, Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) was discovered. The phone contained hundreds of images and videos depicting sexually explicit conduct involving children. The age of the children in the videos ranged from approximately two to 12 years old. Also discovered were search terms indicative of an interest in child pornography, including searches for peer-to-peer applications. Finally, while reviewing jail calls following the search, law enforcement heard Ruby make vague references to electronic evidence he wanted to dispose of.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Red Lodge Police Department 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.

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