Child Sex Sting Nabs 6 Men: Delaware County District Attorney

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — Five local men and one from Colorado have been charged following a child sex operation sting, according to Delaware County authorities.

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced the undercover operated led to six men being charged with multiple counts of child sex-related crimes arising from their attempts to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with minors.

The sting was led by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and included help from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, as well as multiple municipal police departments.

During the operation, which ran from Dec. 8 to Dec. 11, undercover agents posed as minors on one of the websites or social media sites which are monitored by law enforcement for use by individuals who engage in the sexual exploitation of children.

Below are details on the charged individuals, according to the Delaware County District Attorney's Office:

Joseph P. Fahy, 48, of Media.

Fahy is accused of traveling to Essington on Dec. 8 to meet up with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old boy for sex. According to the complaint, Fahy and an undercover agent who was posing as the boy discussed sexual activity on a social media site prior to the planned meetup. Fahy was arrested on Dec. 8 at the site of the proposed meetup. He has been arraigned on felony counts of attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child (IDSI), unlawful contact with a minor, attempted corruption of minors, and criminal use of a communication facility. Bail was set at $250,000, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled before District Judge Jack D. Lippart on Dec. 19.

Laurence D. Tom, 47, of Philadelphia

An undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old female responded to an online sex ad, which led to an exchange of emails between Tom and the undercover agent. In the emails, the undercover agent disclosed multiple times that they were 14 years old. Tom acknowledged understanding the agent’s age, and made sexual requests from the agent including fellatio, cunnilingus, sexual intercourse, and anal sex. Tom made arrangements with the undercover agent to meet on Dec. 10, at a location in Tinicum Township. Tom was arrested at that time, and has been arraigned on felony counts of attempted IDSI, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, and criminal use of a communication facility. Bail was set at 10 percent of $250,000, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled before District Judge Jack D. Lippart on Dec. 19.

Stephen L. Maghandy-Taghap, 37, of Philadelphia

An undercover agent posted an ad on an internet escort service. Maghandy-Taghap responded to the ad, and asked about the agent’s “rate.” The agent responded that s/he was a 14-year-old female. Knowing that the intended target was 14 years old, Maghandy-Taghap agreed to pay $100 for sex. Taghap was taken into custody on Dec. 8 at the meetup site in Tinicum Township. He has been arraigned on felony counts of attempted trafficking in minors, attempted statutory sexual assault of a minor, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, and criminal use of a communication facility. Bail was set at $250,000 and a preliminary hearing is scheduled before District Judge Jack D. Lippart on Dec. 19.

Tyler A. Wilder, 30, of Glenmoore

On Dec. 10 a member of ICAC, acting in an undercover capacity as a 14-year-old boy, began communicating with Wilder over the social media platform KIK. Despite expressing concern that he might get “in trouble”, Wilder exchanged a series of explicit sexual messages with the undercover agent, and agreed to meet for the purpose of engaging in oral sex. Wilder was taken into custody on Dec. 10 at the site of the proposed meetup in Tinicum Township. He has been charged with felony counts of attempted IDSI, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, and criminal use of a communication facility. Bail was set at 10 percent of $250,000, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled before District Judge Jack D. Lippart on Dec. 19.

Daniel J. Thurman-Miller, 24, of Colorado Springs, Colorado

Acting as a 14-year-old female, an undercover agent posted an ad on an internet escort service. Thurman-Miller responded to the ad, and asked to meet for the purpose of oral sex. A meetup was arranged for Dec. 9, in Tinicum Township, at which time Thurman-Miller was taken into custody. Miller has been charged with felony counts of attempted IDSI, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, and criminal use of a communication facility. Bail was set at 10 percent of $250,000, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled before District Judge Jack D. Lippart on Dec. 19.

Andrew Chang, 56, of Upper Darby

Acting as a 14-year-old female, an undercover agent posted an ad on an internet escort service. Chang answered the ad and began a sexual conversation with the agent. The agent told Chang that they were 14. Despite expressing concern about the agent’s age, Chang requested sexually explicit pictures, as well as a meetup for the purpose of engaging in various sex acts. Chang was taken into custody on Dec. 10 in Tinicum Township. He has been arraigned on felony counts of attempted trafficking in minors, attempted IDSI, attempted statutory sexual assault of a minor, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, and criminal use of a communication facility. Bail was set at 10 percent of $250,000, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled before District Judge Jack D. Lippart on Dec. 19.