A Brookline resident, Scott Cunha, 26, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison on Thursday for recruiting and enticing a minor to produce and send child pornography. The sentencing took place in Boston’s federal court before U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun.
Cunha had pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of sexual exploitation of children. He was arrested and charged earlier in January 2025.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, beginning as early as 2022, Cunha used Snapchat to communicate with several minors between the ages of 13 and 16 across the United States. He encouraged these minors to create and send nude images and videos through the platform. In some cases, he offered or provided money or gifts in exchange for the explicit material. Investigators also found that Cunha attempted to arrange meetings with some victims for sex acts by offering payment, and he did meet at least one minor victim.
Following his prison term, Cunha will be subject to five years of supervised release.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated: “United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of Federal Bureau of Investigations made the announcement.” The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Torey B. Cummings and Elizabeth Riley from the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit.
