Cop, Minister Among 16 Alleged NJ Child Predators In Massive Bust

Sixteen alleged child predators – including a police officer, a teacher and a minister – were busted in a massive child protection sting operation, “Operation Home Alone” (see list below)

The sixteen alleged child predators were busted in “Operation Home Alone,” a multi-agency undercover operation targeting men who were using social media in an attempt to lure underage girls and boys for sexual activity, according to a release from Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal.

The defendant who is a Ridgewood police officer, Peter Tuchol Jr., was placed under arrest on April 15 at the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office in Paramus. Read more: Ridgewood Cop Charged With Attempted Sex Assault: Prosecutor

Thirteen other defendants were arrested at an undercover residence (see list below).

One defendant was arrested at a shopping mall, and another defendant was arrested at his own residence. Those who went to the undercover Bergen County residence allegedly expected to find their victims home alone, according to the release.

Instead, they were arrested upon arrival, sometimes by teams that included the very officer who portrayed the child they targeted for sex. The underage “children” were, in fact, undercover officers, according to the release.

Those also arrested include also included a Bronx, NY, high school teacher, drivers for two rideshare companies, a finance lead for an internet service provider, a bank branch office manager, a barbershop owner, a dental hygienist, two takeout food deliverymen, and others, according to the release.

The 16 men 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 Grewal.

“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," Grewal said. "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.”

The arrests in Operation Home Alone were made over a five-day period, from April 11 through 15. Seven defendants traveled to the undercover house from locations in New York, and one traveled from Philadelphia, according to the release.

The following 16 men were arrested in Operation Home Alone. They allegedly believed they were communicating with a minor as described in parentheses. The defendants are charged as indicated. The cases will be prosecuted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office or Division of Criminal Justice as indicated:

1. Peter Tuchol Jr., 28, of Waldwick (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.
2. Kevin Roth, 26, Nanuet, NY (Boy, 14) Roth is a teacher at the High School of Computers and Technology in Bronx, NY. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree). BCPO is prosecuting.
3. Dariush Ghamarnezhad, 37, of Pomona, NY (Girl, 14) Ghamarnezhad is a dental hygienist. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree). DCJ is prosecuting.
4. Joel Guichardo, 38, of Passaic (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.
5. Larry Noel Jr., 43, of Stanhope (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.
6. Shaheen Lariff, 49, of New City, NY (Boy, 15) Lariff is a bank branch office manager. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree). DCJ is prosecuting.
7. Rajan Lama, 33, Woodside, NY (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.
8. Luis Gonzalez Palacio, 36, of Weehawkin (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.
9. Roger Arroyo, 37, of Philadelphia (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.
10. Yosef Kriger, 31, of New City, NY (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.
11. Michael Mancini, 36, of Hawthorne (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.
12. Teodoro Alvarez Ortega, 28, of Suffern, NY (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.
13. Jacob Smith, 26, of New Rochelle, NY (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.
14. Jose Martinez, 47, of Fairview (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.
15. Jason Keizer, 33, of Garfield (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.
16. Hareshkum Tailor, 55, Garfield (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.

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, according to the release.

The defendants typically initiated contact based on profiles posted on social media platforms by the undercover detectives and agents. The social platforms that were used in these encounters included Kik, Skout, Grindr, Tinder, MeetMe, and Adam4Adam, according to the release.

Once chatting began, the undercover officers clearly identified themselves as underage girls or boys, according to the release. Despite that information, the defendants allegedly engaged the purported “children” in conversations about sex and made arrangements to meet the “children” for sex.

“Parents need to be aware of their children’s activities on the Internet, and if children appear anxious or evasive when this topic is raised, it may be a red flag,” said Grewal. “It is critical that parents talk to their children about social media and chat apps to let them know that the people they encounter may not be who they initially seem to be.”

The undercover residence was staffed with dozens of law enforcement officers and evidence technicians. Attorneys were stationed at the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, according to the release. Electronic devices that were seized from the defendants were previewed at the scene by evidence technicians when defendants gave consent.

Attorneys and detectives drafted search warrants for other seized digital devices, according to the release. All of the devices were taken to the forensic computer laboratory at the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office for full forensic examinations.

Those examinations, which are ongoing, 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, according to the release.

The defendants were lodged in the Bergen County Jail until detention hearings were held during the past week. One defendant, Mancini, was ordered detained in jail pending trial.

The other defendants were released subject to stringent pre-trial monitoring conditions, including at a minimum reporting regularly to Pre-Trial Services staff and prohibitions from using the Internet except for work or having any unsupervised contact with children under 18, according to the release.

Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree charges carry a sentence of three of five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Fourth-degree charges carry a sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Grewal thanked the following federal, state, county and municipal agencies that assisted in Operation Home Alone, including numerous members of the ICAC Task Force:

• Upper Saddle River Police Department
• Ramsey Police Department
• Saddle River Police Department
• Bergen County Regional SWAT Team
• Bergen County Sheriff’s Office K-9 and Patrol

ICAC Task Force Members:

• U.S. Homeland Security Investigations
• FBI Innocent Images Squad
• New Jersey State Parole Board
• Bayonne Police Department
• Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office
• Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office
• Camden County Prosecutor’s Office
• Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office
• Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
• Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office
• Hazlet Township Police Department
• Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office
• Keyport Police Department
• Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office
• Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office
• Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office
• Morris County Prosecutor’s Office
• Ocean Township Police Department
• Passaic County Sheriff’s Department
• Red Bank Police Department
• Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office
• Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office
• Union County Prosecutor’s Office
• Voorhees Township Police Department
• Warren County Prosecutor’s Office

The sting was spearheaded by the Division of Criminal Justice, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, New Jersey State Police, New Jersey Regional Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, and other law enforcement partners, according to Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal.