Seventeen men ranging in age from 23 to 77 have been arrested and charged with child luring by Atlantic City police after being duped by a pair of YouTubers into thinking they were meeting underage teenagers for sex.
The self-proclaimed predator catchers separately engaged in online conversations with the men, arranged a place to meet and then confronted them with cameras rolling, authorities said.
The YouTubers — identified by BreakingAC.com as Cameron Decker and Shafiq Blake — turned over the videos and chat transcripts to police.
Police investigated and eventually charged all 17 within the last three weeks with luring/enticing a child by various means, a second-degree crime.
Police charged seven New Jersey residents, including four from Atlantic City. Others are from Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina.
The arrests were announced days after Egg Harbor Township police disclosed that the same YouTubers helped catch two other alleged predators in a similar fashion.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call Atlantic City police at 609-347-5766. Information can also be texted to tip411 (847411). Begin the text with ACPD. All texts are anonymous.
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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
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