Federal agents are intensifying a search for a former New York City volleyball coach accused of sexually exploiting teen players over a period of years. Investigators have identified 36-year-old Edgar Lazaro Castillo as a person of interest and say the alleged misconduct primarily involved minors who played in club leagues from roughly 2010 through March 2026. Authorities say the suspected pattern stretches across multiple states but was centered in New York City, and they believe Castillo may have fled the country. The FBI and local prosecutors are urging anyone with information to step forward.
The FBI New York Field Office has issued a bulletin naming Castillo and has launched an online victim questionnaire that asks about social media contact, image exchanges and any payments, as reported by the New York Post. According to that reporting, investigators are working to assemble a timeline that reaches back more than a decade and to identify players who may have encountered Castillo at club practices and tournaments. Parents and former players have already heard from investigators as the probe widens.
What investigators are asking
The FBI is urging anyone who may have been contacted by Castillo, or who has messages, photos or video tied to interactions with him, to reach out to its New York Field Office or submit a tip online through FBI New York. The bureau’s New York page lists a phone number and a digital tip form for around-the-clock reporting, and agents say even old screenshots or archived messages can be crucial for the investigation. They emphasize that patterns of communication, the platforms used and any payments or transfers can help build a clearer case and identify additional victims.
Where he coached and earlier complaints
Reporting identifies Castillo as having coached at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and at Xavier in Manhattan, as well as serving as a long-time coach with Impact Volleyball Club. Legacy Volleyball Club reportedly dismissed him in 2014 after earlier complaints, according to the New York Post. That coverage also notes that one player filed a complaint alleging an assault at a tournament in Boston in March, and that agents contacted Impact players to offer counseling and provided parents with agents’ contact information.
Investigation status and where to report
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn has been reported to be assisting the FBI with the probe, placing the matter in federal jurisdiction for interstate child-exploitation cases. Victims and witnesses can find victim-witness resources and contact information through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and can also reach the FBI New York Field Office by phone or via the bureau’s online tip form. Law-enforcement sources say agents are pursuing leads across state lines and coordinating their efforts as they determine whether federal charges will be filed.
The investigation is still unfolding and many details remain under review. Parents, coaches and tournament organizers say the case has renewed calls for clearer safeguards on how adults interact with minors in youth sports while investigators continue gathering tips and evidence.
