NJ - 24 men, incl. police sergeant & firefighter, arrested in undercover child sex sting, Sep 2018

[cybervampira]

Police Sgt., firefighter, 22 more arrested in child sex sting

Two dozen men, including a police sergeant and firefighter, have been arrested in an undercover child sex sting, New Jersey law enforcement officials announced Tuesday.

According to state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, the sting, dubbed "Operation Open House," targeted "men who allegedly were using social media in an attempt to lure underage girls and boys for sexual activity."

During the investigation, undercover officers posed as underage boys and girls on social media sites such as Grindr, Whisper, Skout and Kik, the Attorney General's Office said in a news release.

The following suspects also were arrested:

• Mina G. Beshay, 27, of Monroe Township
• Christopher Vargas, 29, of Toms River
• Joshua Rauter, 31, of Little Egg Harbor Township
• Joseph Martin, 35, of Seaside Heights
• Volvi Lowinger, 23, of Lakewood
• Thomas Graciano, 28, of Brick
• Thomas Blumensteel, 47, of Manchester
• Thomas Fuller, 44, Toms River
• Zachary Vincent, 24, of Forked River
• William Singleton, 24, of Pemberton Township
• Jonathan Vece, 22, of Turnersville
• Lawrence Ivancic, 51, of Toms River
• Robert Lisicki, 51, of Metuchen
• Dylan Daffron, 28, of Lacey Township
• Steven Portnoy, 27, of Egg Harbor Township
• David Studnicky, 64, of Toms River
• Anthony Perfidio, 24, of Barnegat
• Brian Degnan, 33, of Toms River
• Nabindranauth Nandalall, 24, of Bronx, New York
• William D. Davis, 23, Bayville
• Charles Schlottfeld, 26, of Bayville
• Douglass Walton, 54, of Hillsborough

All 24 suspects are facing charges of "attempted luring or enticing a child with purpose to commit a criminal offense against the child," a second-degree offense, the news release said.

Some also face charges of attempted sexual assault on a minor, attempted debauching morals of a child and attempted showing obscene material to a minor.

See the full list of the suspects and their charges here.

State of New Jersey



AG Gurbir Grewal on Twitter

Video: @GurbirGrewalNJ announces the arrests of 24 alleged #childpredators in “Operation Open House,” an undercover operation targeting men who allegedly were using social media in an attempt to lure underage girls and boys for sexual activity -

It is a frightening reality that sexual predators are lurking on social media, ready to strike if they find a child who is vulnerable. We are working aggressively to apprehend these sex offenders. We want child predators to know that we are on social media too.

 

[crhedBngr]

Unbelieveable. Disgusting beyond belief. Another one of many, many sick things in this world I will NEVER understand.

 

[TxMother67]

Absolutely vile!

 

[Jennifer17]

Makes you wonder how many, seemingly respectable men, like this are out there.