Man Drove From New York to South Jersey For Sex With 14-Year-Old: Police

A man from Syracuse, NY, believed he was driving to South Jersey to have sex with a 14-year-old girl, but what he got instead was a trip to jail, authorities said on Friday.

Stephen Epolito, 37, is charged with a second-degree crime of attempting to lure a child via electronic means to a meeting with the purpose of committing a criminal offense.

Epolito was arrested on Thursday. Aug. 4, after he engaged in a cyber chat with what he believed to be a 14-year-old girl, but in reality were undercover investigators, police said.

Police allege Epolito then drove from Syracuse, New York to Gloucester City to meet with the child to have sex.

He was remanded to the Camden County Jail on $100,000 full cash bail.

Anyone with additional information concerning this investigation is urged to contact Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Lt. Thomas Di Nunzio at 856-225-8515 or Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Kimberlee Gautier at 856-225-8682. Information may also be emailed to ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org.

The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crimes Unit working in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations, the Gloucester Township Police Department, and the Gloucester City Police Department all participated in the investigation.

The attached image of Stephen Epolito was provided by the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office