A former swim coach and lifeguard in Brookline, Mass., has been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of children.
Scott Cunha, 26, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Thursday in Boston for recruiting and enticing a 15-year-old child to produce and send child pornography to him, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement. The 15-year sentence will be followed by five years of supervised release.
Cunha was arrested and charged with the production of child pornography in January 2025.
In October 2025, he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children.
Between September 2019 and July 2022, Cunha was employed by the town of Brookline’s recreation department as a swim coach and lifeguard while working with children ranging from the ages of six to 18.
Beginning in at least 2022, Cunha communicated over Snapchat with multiple minor children between the ages of 13 and 16 from all across the United States, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
He recruited the children to take nude images and videos of themselves and send them to him over Snapchat, often in exchange for money or gifts. He also offered to pay them money to meet up with him in person and engage in sex acts with him.
He met up with at least one minor victim, the Attorney’s Office said. According to an affidavit from his original charge, he sent a rideshare car to pick up the girl from her K-8 school and met her at a mall. She said he touched her inappropriately while there.
Anyone who believes they may be a victim or know a victim related to this case is urged to call 617-748-3274.
Brookline town officials have also encouraged potential victims to call Brookline Police at 617-730-2222.
