A Brookline resident, Scott Cunha, 26, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a minor. The sentencing took place in Boston’s federal court, presided over by U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun. After serving his prison term, Cunha will be subject to five years of supervised release.
Cunha pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of sexual exploitation of children. He was arrested and charged in January 2025.
According to court documents, starting as early as 2022, Cunha used Snapchat to communicate with several minors between the ages of 13 and 16 from various parts of the United States. He persuaded these minors to send him nude images and videos by offering money or gifts in return. Additionally, he attempted to convince some victims to meet him for sex acts by promising payment; he succeeded in meeting at least one minor victim.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, announced the sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Torey B. Cummings and Elizabeth Riley from the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit prosecuted the case.