5 Alleged Child Predators Busted In Somerset County

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — Five Somerset County men were among the 19 child predators were arrested in a large statewide bust, prosecutors announced on Thursday. The arrests were part of "Operation Open Door" that involved authorities from all 21 New Jersey counties.

The following five Somerset County men were arrested in "Operation Open Door." They believed that they were communicating with a minor described in the parentheses. The defendants are charged as indicated and were lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending detention hearings.

• Jihaad Brown, 23 of Franklin Park. (14) Brown is retail salesman. Charges are second-degree Luring and third-degree Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
• Brian Davis, 28 of Somerset. (14) Davis is a security guard. Charges are second-degree Attempted Promotion of Prostitution of a Child, second-degree Luring, and third-degree Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
• Niraj Patel, 46 of Somerset. (14) Patel is a printer. Charges are second-degree Luring, second-degree Attempted Sexual Assault and third-degree Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
• Michael Schumacher, 55 of Somerset. (12) Schumacher is a self-employed home theater installer. Charges are second-degree Luring and third-degree Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
• Alexander Ulikowski, 20 of Branchburg. (14) Ulikowski is an assistant manager for a hockey store. Charges are second-degree Luring and third-degree Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

To see the full list of 19 arrested click here.

"Operation Open Door" was a multi-agency undercover operation that sought individuals using social media applications to lure underage girls and boys for sexual activity, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson announced.

These "underage children" were actually undercover law enforcement officers who are specially trained members of the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, according to authorities.

Those arrested in this operation initiated contact based on profiles posted by the undercover law enforcement officers on social media platforms. Once chatting began, the undercover officers clearly identified themselves as underage girls or boys, authorities said.

Despite that information, the defendants engaged the "children" in conversations about sex and made arrangements to meet the "children" for sex, authorities said.

Most defendants were arrested when they arrived at one of two residences in Somerset County, where they expected to find their victims home alone, authorities said. All 21 prosecutors in New Jersey were involved.

The arrests in "Operation Open Door" were made over a six-day period from Oct. 23 through Oct. 28. One defendant travelled to one of the undercover houses from Pennsylvania, authorities said.
Two of the defendants lived out-of-state and were in New Jersey for work when they decided to travel to meet with a "child' for sex, authorities said.

The undercover residences were staffed with dozens of law enforcement officers from around the State, forensic examiners, and attorneys from the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. Electronic devices were seized from the defendants and examinations of those devices are ongoing, authorities said.

The investigative review of the forensic examinations is a lengthy process and will enable investigators to determine if the devices contain evidence of any prior encounters by the defendants with underage victims, which might constitute additional cases of luring, sexual assault or child endangerment, authorities said.

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