Motocross coach sentenced to 40 years in prison for child pornography case

A traveling motocross trainer who visited states from Georgia and Tennessee to New York has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for multiple counts of child exploitation, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Ryan Meyung, 33, of no fixed address, taught children and built motocross tracks across the country, the press release said.

(READ MORE: Motocross instructor arrested in Chattanooga faces child pornography charges)

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigation in Chattanooga with assistance from Homeland Security Investigation – Dalton, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and the Chattanooga Police Department.

“This coach abused his position of trust and his deep responsibility to protect and care for those entrusted to him,” HSI Nashville Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud said in the press release. “HSI, along with our partners at the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and the Chattanooga Police Department, are committed to investigating and deporting those who would harm our children.”

Meyung induced six minor victims – then between the ages of 6 and 13 – to engage in sexually explicit conduct between July 2019 and December 2021 to produce images and videos of child sexual abuse, the press release states. He also transported images and videos of child sexual abuse produced by other sex offenders.

He pleaded guilty and was found guilty on April 26 of six counts of production of child pornography.

“Meyung is a sex offender who sexually abused numerous children while working as a motocross coach,” U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said in the press release. “This office remains committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners across state lines to ensure that those who commit these heinous crimes against children are brought to justice.”

— Compiled by Cameron McKeon