Former Rockland County Diving Coach Sentenced To 220 Months In Prison For Transporting Two Minors For Illegal Sexual Activity In 2006 And 2008

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that VICTOR BYRNE was sentenced to 220 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román for transporting two minors to engage in illegal sexual activity in 2006 and 2008. The sentencing today followed BYRNE's guilty plea on March 14, 2024.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: "Victor Byrne used his position as a diving coach to sexually exploit young athletes. Byrne's conduct is the nightmare of every parent who entrusts their child to a coach. Today's sentencing demonstrates that the passage of years will not prevent us from holding child predators accountable for their conduct."

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in related court proceedings:

In or about July 2006, BYRNE transported a 16-year-old minor ("Victim-1") from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Rockland County, New York, and, once in New York, engaged in illegal sexual activity with Victim-1.

In or about February 2008, BYRNE arranged for a 16-year-old minor ("Victim-2") to be transported from New Jersey to Rockland County, New York, and, thereafter, engaged in illegal sexual activity with Victim-2.

From in or about 2001 through at least 2009, BYRNE was a diving coach for competitive youth divers. He coached several teams of youth divers in and around Rockland County, New York. BYRNE began abusing Victim-1 when she was 14 years old. For Victim-2, the abuse began when she was 16. To gain the trust of his victims and their families and others he coached, BYRNE falsely held himself out as a police officer.

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In addition to the prison term, BYRNE, 58, was sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release.

Mr. Williams praised the efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshal Service, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida, and the New York City Police Department Special Victims Unit assigned to the HSI Human Trafficking Task Force in connection with this investigation. He added that the investigation is ongoing.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office's White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.

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