SPOKANE, WA – United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced today that 41-year-old Daniel John Kraft was charged by criminal complaint on one count of Receipt of Child Pornography and one count of Possession of Child Pornography. Kraft was arraigned in federal court on March 10th.

According to court documents, in September 2024, the Sanders County Montana Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) developed information that Snapchat user “smokeweed5468” was soliciting sexual images from a minor. “Smokeweed5468” also told the minor he knew where they lived and threatened to kidnap the minor and take them to Mexico.

Investigators obtained a warrant for the Snapchat account for “smokeweed5468.” The records from Snapchat contained more than a dozen sexually explicit videos of minors. “Smokeweed5468” also used Snapchat to offer the minors drugs and money and asked if the minors would be willing to sneak out and meet with him.

Investigators learned the Snapchat account was allegedly being used at home in Tonasket, Washington, owned by Kraft. The Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) confirmed Kraft lived at the home. OCSO also confirmed Kraft was a registered sex offender for violations committed in 2013.

On March 5th the Washington State Patrol took Kraft into custody at his home in Tonasket. Investigators seized several electronic devices. A search of Kraft’s cellphone allegedly revealed Snapchat running in the background of the device. In addition, investigators allegedly located several sexually explicit images involving minors on Kraft’s phone that were also on the “smokeweed5468” Snapchat account.

This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Seattle Police Department, Washington State Patrol, the Eastern Region Washington Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, Sanders County Sheriff’s Office, and the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Van Marter.