Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Black Hawk, South Dakota man has been sentenced for receipt of child pornography. The sentencing by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier took place on July 11, 2025.
Matthew Charles Ratliff, aged 51, received a sentence of five years and three months in federal prison. This will be followed by five years of supervised release. Additionally, he was ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution to online victims and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Ratliff is required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Ratliff was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2023 for receipt and possession of child pornography. He pleaded guilty on April 7, 2025.
The case began with a Cybertip alerting law enforcement that Ratliff was downloading and viewing images of young children being sexually abused. Searches revealed approximately 280 images of child sexual abuse material on his devices. At sentencing, Judge Schreier emphasized that each viewing re-victimizes the children involved. Some victims have been identified, leading to the restitution order.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project coordinates efforts from federal, state, and local resources to prosecute offenders and rescue victims.
The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Ratliff was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
