Plano Gymnastics Coach Sentenced for Child Exploitation

Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs

    PLANO, Texas – A 26-year-old Plano gymnastics instructor has been sentenced to federal prison for child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
 
Lyndsey Ryan Cox, also known as Coach Wes, pleaded guilty on June 17, 2014 to a charge of coercion or enticement and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Richard Schell.

According to information presented in court, in July 2013, Cox used his cellular phone to entice or coerce a minor to engage in sexual intercourse.  Cox was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 15, 2013 and charged with child exploitation violations. 
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Plano Police Department and Collin County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey M. Batson.