HACKENSACK—Undercover law enforcement agents targeted men who allegedly used social media attempting to lure underaged girls and boys for sexual activity, arresting 16 defendants in “Operation Home Alone,” the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office announced April 24.
“Most of the defendants were arrested when they arrived at a residence in Bergen County, where they allegedly expected to find their victim home alone,” the AG’s office said. “Instead, they found law enforcement officers prepared to arrest them and process any evidence seized.”
The AG’s office said among those arrested were: a Ridgewood police officer, a Bronx, N.Y., high school teacher, drivers for two rideshare companies, a minister, a finance lead for an internet service provider, a bank branch office manager, a barbershop owner, a dental hygienist, and two takeout food deliverymen.
“The 16 men we arrested allegedly used social media to stalk victims they believed were vulnerable children who could be sexually exploited. Fortunately, their victims were really undercover officers prepared to put them in handcuffs,” said Attorney General Grewal in a statement. “Parents need to know that the profiles of underage girls and boys we posted on social media to catch these offenders could easily have been profiles of their own children, who might also be targeted by predators on chat apps and popular gaming sites. Our message to parents with Operation Home Alone is be on guard. Our message to child predators is law enforcement is working overtime to find you and arrest you.”
One of the participating law enforcement agencies—New Jersey Regional Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, led by state police—has arrested alleged child predators who used the following chat apps: Kik, Skout, Grindr, Whisper, Omegle, Tinder, Chat Avenue, Chat Roulette, Wishbone, Live.ly, Musical.ly, Paltalk, Yubo, Hot or Not, Down, and Tumblr, said the AG’s office. Arrests also have been made involving the gaming apps Fortnite, Minecraft, and Discord, it said.
Grewal urged parents to familiarize themselves with these apps and warn their children about sharing information with strangers.
Special Agent-in-Charge Gregory W. Ehrie with the Federal Bureau of Investigations said the internet creates potential opportunities for depraved members of society to prey on vulnerable victims, calling it an “unfortunate consequence.”
“Predators should heed this warning: we will continue these targeted efforts and you may be the next arrest we make,” said Ehrie.
It’s part of the primary function of law enforcement—protect all residents, said Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo.
“…[T]he focus of this particular initiative was the protection of our most vulnerable – our innocent children,” said Calo.
Defendants traveled to ‘undercover house’
Operation Home Alone defendants were arrested between April 11 through April 15, when they traveled to the undercover house in Bergen County.
“The defendants are variously charged with second-degree luring, second-degree attempted sexual assault on a minor, and third-degree attempted debauching the morals of a child,” said the AG’s office, which will prosecute the cases along with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
“Two men face third-degree charges of attempted showing obscene material to a minor for allegedly sending photographs of their genitals to undercover detectives. Two men are charged with having child pornography on their electronic devices, including one who allegedly had more than 13,000 files of suspected child pornography on his phone and a second who was already facing sentencing on a prior child pornography charge filed by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office,” the AG’s office said.
The defendant who is a police officer, Peter Tuchol Jr., was placed under arrest on April 15 at the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office in Paramus, the AG’s office said.
“Those who went to the undercover residence allegedly expected to find their victims home alone,” said the AG’s office. “Instead, they were arrested upon arrival, sometimes by teams that included the very officer who portrayed the child they targeted for sex.
Thirteen defendants were arrested at the undercover residence in Bergen County. One defendant was arrested at a shopping mall, and the remaining defendant was arrested at his own residence.
All told, 30 law enforcement agencies worked together to arrest the following defendants, who now await their day in court:
1. Peter Tuchol Jr., 28, of Waldwick, N.J. (Girl, 15) Tuchol has been suspended from his position as a police officer with the Ridgewood Police Department. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree), Attempted Debauching Morals of a Child (3rd degree), Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (anabolic steroids) (3rd degree), Possession of a Prescription Legend Drug (4th degree), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (hypodermic needles) (4th degree). BCPO is prosecuting.
Kevin Roth, 26, Nanuet, N.Y. (Boy, 14) Roth is a teacher at the High School of Computers and Technology in Bronx, N.Y. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree). BCPO is prosecuting.
Dariush Ghamarnezhad, 37, of Pomona, N.Y. (Girl, 14) Ghamarnezhad is a dental hygienist. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree). DCJ is prosecuting.
Joel Guichardo, 38, of Passaic, N.J. (Girl, 14) Guichardo is a barbershop owner. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree), Attempted Debauching Morals of a Child (3rd degree). BCPO is prosecuting.
Larry Noel Jr., 43, of Stanhope, N.J. (Boy, 14) Noel is a warehouse worker. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree), Attempted Debauching Morals of a Child (3rd degree). DCJ is prosecuting.
Shaheen Lariff, 49, of New City, N.Y. (Boy, 15) Lariff is a bank branch office manager. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree). DCJ is prosecuting.
Rajan Lama, 33, Woodside, N.Y. (Girl, 14) Lama is a driver for a rideshare company. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Criminal Sexual Contact (2nd & 4th degree), Attempted Debauching Morals of a Child (3rd degree). BCPO is prosecuting.
Luis Gonzalez Palacio, 36, of Weehawkin, N.J. (Boy, 14) Gonzalez Palacio is a finance lead for a major internet service provider. Palacio allegedly had more than 13,000 suspected files of child pornography on his phone when he was arrested. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree), Possession of Child Pornography (3rd degree). DCJ is prosecuting.
Roger Arroyo, 37, of Philadelphia, Pa. (Girl, 14) Arroyo is a traveling minister. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Debauching Morals of a Child (3rd degree), Attempted Criminal Sexual Contact (4th degree). BCPO is prosecuting.
Yosef Kriger, 31, of New City, N.Y. (Girl, 14) Kriger is a pharmaceuticals delivery driver. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree), Attempted Debauching Morals of a Child (3rd degree). BCPO is prosecuting.
Michael Mancini, 36, of Hawthorne, N.J. (Girl, 14) Mancini is a supermarket employee and DJ. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree), Attempted Debauching Morals of a Child (3rd degree). DCJ is prosecuting.
Teodoro Alvarez Ortega, 28, of Suffern, N.Y. (Boy, 14) Avarez Ortega is a restaurant server. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree), Attempted Debauching Morals of a Child (3rd degree), Attempted Showing Obscene Material to a Minor (3rd degree). DCJ is prosecuting.
Jacob Smith, 26, of New Rochelle, N.Y. (Girl, 14) Smith is a takeout food delivery driver. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree), Attempted Debauching Morals of a Child (3rd degree), Attempted Showing Obscene Material to a Minor (3rd degree). DCJ is prosecuting.
Jose Martinez, 47, of Fairview, N.J. (Boy, 14) Martinez is a takeout food delivery driver. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree), Attempted Debauching Morals of a Child (3rd degree). BCPO is prosecuting.
Jason Keizer, 33, of Garfield, N.J. (Girl, 14) Keizer is unemployed. Charges: Attempted Debauching Morals of a Child (3rd degree), Possession of Child Pornography (3rd degree). Keizer is currently awaiting sentencing on a prior child pornography charge filed by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. BCPO is prosecuting.
Hareshkum Tailor, 55, Garfield, N.J. (Girl, 14) Tailor is a driver for a rideshare company. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree). DCJ is prosecuting.