A Columbus man has admitted to attempting to send obscene material to a minor during an undercover investigation, according to U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich.
Jacob Curtis Wyckoff, 25, pleaded guilty to charges of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. The charge carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided over the plea hearing. A sentencing date will be scheduled before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine the final sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Wyckoff was released pending further proceedings.
Court documents reveal that in January 2023, law enforcement in the Billings area conducted an undercover operation targeting individuals with a sexual interest in children. An undercover officer posed as a 14-year-old girl on social media and was contacted by Wyckoff on KIK under the profile name "Jake Smith." Despite being informed that she was "almost 15," communications between them became increasingly sexual from January 2023 until July 14, 2023. Wyckoff expressed intentions to meet for a sexual encounter and sent explicit images on July 6, 2023.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with investigative efforts from the FBI, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Laurel Police Department, and Montana Division of Criminal Investigations.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse through federal collaboration with state and local resources.
