10 Alleged Child Predators Busted In Sting: Delco DA

MEDIA, PA — Ten alleged child predators are off the streets thanks to a sting operation in Delaware County, according to the Delaware County District Attorney's office.

Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun M. Copeland announced Thursday the arrest of 10 people as a result of an undercover sting operation focused on child predators.

The 10 defendants are from areas as close as Trainer and as far as Las Vegas, the DA's office said.

These arrests come at the conclusion of a month-long investigation, during National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The Delaware County District Attorney’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) Internet Crime Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, Pennsylvania State Police, Tinicum Township Police Department, Ridley Township Police Department, Glenolden Borough Police Department, Darby Borough Police Department, Darby Township Police Department, and the FBI all participated in the operation.

The following individuals were arrested as a result of the investigation:

Marvin Gus Jennings, 53, of Philadelphia, was arrested following an investigation by Detective Sergeant Kenneth Bellis of CID ICAC unit and Officer Timothy Kearney of the Ridley Township Police Department and member of the Delaware County ICAC Task Force. Kearney posed as a 14-year-old juvenile female and engaged in on-line conversations with a man later identified as Jennings, who asked whether the juvenile was willing to have sexual intercourse with an older male and initiated further sexual conversations. On April 29, Jennings arranged to meet the 14-year old juvenile, asked sexual questions and told the juvenile what clothing to wear. The next day, Jennings arrived at the agreed upon location and was taken into custody by the Ridley Township Police Department. Jennings was charged with attempt to commit statutory sexual assault and related offenses. Magisterial District Judge Vincent D. Gallagher set bail at $500,000 cash. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 6.

Mohammed S. Merchant, 24, of North Brunswick, New Jersey, following an investigation by Detective Lisa DeMartini of the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office Criminal Investigation Division ICAC Task Force. On April 22, DeMartini met with a concerned parent regarding an individual communicating with their 14-year-old child. After review of the social media messages, DiMartini posed as the 14-year-old female child and engaged in communications with an individual later identified as Mohammed Merchant. Merchant told the 14-year-old he wanted to have sex with the juvenile and would meet the juvenile at a location that evening. Upon arrival at the prearranged location, Merchant was taken into custody and told police he was going to have sex with the 14-year-old female child. Merchant was charged with attempt to commit statutory sexual assault and related offenses. He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Michael A. Burns and bail was set at $150,000 cash. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 8.

Gregory Mark Sylvia, 32, of Peabody, Massachusetts, was arrested following an investigation by Corporal John Sours of the Pennsylvania State Police and member of the ICAC Task Force. Sours posed as a 15-year-old juvenile male on a social media application. During the exchanges, Sylvia sent nude photos and advised he wanted to perform sexual acts on the juvenile. A meeting was arranged and upon his arrival at the agreed upon location, Sylvia was taken into custody. Sylvia was charged with attempt to commit involuntary sexual intercourse and related offenses. He was arraigned on April 5 before Magisterial District Judge Jack D. Lippart, and bail was set at 10 percent of $100,000. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 13.

Santhosh Akinepalli, 27, of Exton, was arrested following an investigation by Kearney of the Ridley Township Police Department and member of the Delaware County ICAC Task Force. On April 6, Kearney posed as a 13-year-old female on a social media application, and received a message from an individual later identified as Akinepalli, who asked, “How much for an hour?” while asking the juvenile to engage in sex. Akinepalli said he would drive to the juvenile’s location after acknowledging several times that he knew the juvenile was 13 years old. On April 12, after engaging in sexual related conversation, Akinepalli arranged to meet the juvenile at a prearranged location and was taken into custody while traveling to the location. Akinepalli was charged with attempt to commit statutory sexual assault and related offenses. Magisterial District Judge Jack D. Lippart set bail at 10 percent of $50,000. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 13.

Anthony Quairoli, 22, of Essington, was arrested following an investigation by Kearney of the Ridley Township Police Department and member of the Delaware County ICAC Task Force. Kearney posed as a 13-year-old female and was asked by Quairoli through a social media application to hang out, and whether the juvenile wanted to have sex with him. After Quairoli was told that the juvenile was actually 12-years-old, he said he still wanted to have sex with her and arranged a meeting. At approximately 8:20 p.m. on April 6, a meeting was arranged and upon his arrival at the pre-arranged location, Quairoli was taken into custody. Quairoli was charged with attempt to commit rape of a child and related offenses. Anthony Quairoli was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Jack D. Lippart, and bail was set at 10 percent of $100,000. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 20.

Michael Dean Norman, 38, of Las Vegas, was arrested following an investigation by Sours and a member of the ICAC Task Force. On April 5, Sours posed as a 15-year-old male on a social networking application and received sexual messages from Norman, including his photograph. Norman told the juvenile that he wanted to perform oral sex on the juvenile. A meeting was arranged and Michael Norman was taken into custody after being observed walking toward the meeting location with the cell phone used to communicate with the juvenile. Norman was charged with attempt to commit involuntary sexual intercourse and related offenses. He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Jack D. Lippart, and bail was set at 10 percent of $100,000. Defendant subsequently waived his preliminary hearing.

Kenneth Albert Ruzat, 54, of Trainer, was arrested following an investigation by Corporal Chris Hill of the Pennsylvania State Police and a member of the ICAC Task Force. Hill posed online as a 14-year-old male on a social networking application. Ruzat exchanged several messages with the undercover officer asking to perform sexual acts on the juvenile and asking for nude photographs. A meeting was arranged and on April 6, and upon his arrival at the prearranged location, Ruzat was taken into police custody. Ruzat was charged with attempt to commit involuntary sexual intercourse and related offenses. He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Jack D. Lippart, and bail was set at 10 percent of $100,000. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 20.

Andrew Stephen Oatley, 23, of Galena, Maryland, following an investigation by Sours and a member of the ICAC Task Force. Corporal Sours posed as an undercover 15-year-old male on a social networking application. On April 5, Oatley contacted the juvenile asking for nude photographs and sexual requests, including having sexual intercourse with the juvenile, and eventually sent a photo of himself. Oately arranged to meet with the juvenile and on April 5, upon his arrival in the prearranged meeting location, Oately was taken into custody by police. Oately admitted to police that he was in Delaware when he began messaging the juvenile, went home to Maryland, and drove back to the meeting location in Pennsylvania. Oately was charged with attempt to commit involuntary sexual intercourse and related offenses. He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Jack D. Lippart, and bail was set at 10 percent of $50,000. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 20.

Roberto Flores Ascenion, 37, of Norristown, was arrested following an investigation on April 13, when Kearney of the Ridley Township Police Department and member of the ICAC Task Force posed as an undercover 12-year-old female. Ascenion messaged the juvenile stating, “I would like to meet you and have a good time.” When the undercover officer replied that they were only 12 years old, Ascenion continued to message the juvenile. After several exchanges, Ascenion told the juvenile they were going to have sex and that he wanted the juvenile to “masturbate him.” Ascenion told the juvenile he was thirty minutes away, and he was taken into custody by police after arriving at the agreed upon location. Ascenion was charged with attempt to commit rape of a child and related offenses. He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Vincent D. Gallagher and bail was set at 10 percent of $100,000. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 13.

Sachin Kumar Shetty, 28, of Hatfield, was arrested following an investigation by Officer Leo Doyle with the Ridley Township Police Department and member of the ICAC Task Force who posed undercover as a 13-year-old female. Shetty messaged the undercover officer on a social media application, asking her age and telling her that he was 25 years old. The conversation resulted in Shetty telling the juvenile he could come pick her up and they would have sex and he stated, “Im ready to lose my virginity to you.” Later that afternoon on April 6, Shetty arrived at the pre-arranged meet location and was taken into custody. Shetty told police he was ready to have sexual relations with the 13-year-old female if she was ready. Shettty was charged with attempt to commit statutory sexual assault and related offenses. He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Jack D. Lippart and bail was set at 10 percent of $100,000. The defendant waived his preliminary hearing.

“These defendants actively sought out and targeted juveniles, attempting to prey upon our youth, for their own warped sexual gratification. That is the very definition of predatory behavior. Those who engage in this criminal conduct here in Delaware County should be forewarned that our ICAC Task Force is actively working to locate and arrest these perpetrators who further the victimization of children,” said District Attorney Copeland. “This undercover operation is a reminder to parents and community members how important it is to talk with their children, monitor internet use, and report any suspicious activity to our ICAC Task Force. I would like to commend our ICAC Task Force members and its various law enforcement partners for their continued work in locating and apprehending these perpetrators.”