Brookline man faces child pornography charge, allegedly sexually exploited children

A Brookline man was arrested by FBI agents Thursday and charged with production of child pornography, according to a statement from the US Attorney’ Office of Massachusetts.

Scott Cunha, 24, is charged with recruiting a 15-year-old child to create and provide him with child pornography, according to the statement. Cunha was arrested at his Brookline home and appeared in US District Court in Boston Thursday, the statement said.

Beginning in at least 2022, Cunha allegedly communicated with multiple minor children between the ages of 10 and 16 years old across the country over Snapchat, the statement said. Cunha allegedly recruited the children to send him nude images and videos of themselves, often in exchange for the promise or actual transfer of money, according to the statement.

One of Cunha’s alleged victims was a 15-year-old girl from Connecticut, with whom he was in regular contact between April and July of 2023, according to the affidavit. During the time they were in contact, Cunha repeatedly demanded that she provide him with sexually explicit images, the affidavit said.

The child repeatedly told Cunha about the effect that his demands were having on her mental health, according to the affidavit.

Cunha also allegedly victimized children in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, and Alabama, according to the statement.

The charge against Cunha carries with it a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years in prison with a maximum sentence of life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, according to the statement.

Cunha is being held pending a detention hearing scheduled for Jan. 29, according to court records.

Authorities are urging anyone who believes they may be a victim of Cunha or his alleged crimes to call (617) 748-3274, the statement said.

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