The sting, led by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, included assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, as well as multiple municipal police departments, the office of DA Jack Stollsteimer said.
Those arrested were Joseph P. Fahy, 48, of Media; Andrew Chang, 56, of Upper Darby; Laurence D. Tom, 47, of Philadelphia; Stephen L. Maghandy-Taghap, 37, Philadelphia; Tyler A. Wilder, 30, of Glenmoore, Chester County; and Daniel J. Thurman-Miller, 24, of Colorado Springs.
“There can be no disagreement that the sexual exploitation of children is morally and legally wrong, yet in each of these cases, men — each of whom were repeatedly advised of the age of their intended sexual partner — engaged in online conversations of a sexually explicit nature and arranged for a meet up to engage in sexual activity. This is shameful conduct, and cannot be tolerated in a civilized society. This joint operation — which involved contributions from multiple law enforcement agencies — should send a signal to would-be predators that we have an army of dedicated members of law enforcement who work tirelessly to protect our children,” Stollsteimer said in a prepared statement.
The arrests all occurred from Dec. 8 to 11. All of the arrests occurred in Tinicum Township.
The individual accounts from authorities:
• Fahy believed that on Dec. 8 that he was meeting up with a 14-year-old boy for sex. 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 felony counts of attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, 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.
• Chang thought a 14-year-old girl had posted an ad on an internet escort service. He answered the ad and began a sexual conversation with an agent. The agent told the defendant that she was 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 Dec. 10 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 $250,000 with a hearing before Lippert set for the 19th.
• Tom thought he was responding an online sex ad from a 14-year-old girl. There was an exchange of emails between the defendant and the undercover agent. In the emails, the undercover agent disclosed multiple times that “she” was 14. The arrangement was to meet Dec. 10. 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 $250,000 with a hearing before Lippert set for the 19th.
• Maghandy-Taghap responded to an internet-escort service ad, asking about the rate. The agent responded that “she” was 14. Knowing that the intended target was 14 years-old, the defendant agreed to pay $100 for sex. Maghandy-Taghap was taken into custody on Dec. 8 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, with the same details as the other defendants on the hearing.
• Wilder began communicating with a “14-year-old boy” over the social media platform KIK. Despite expressing concern that he might get “in trouble,” the defendant exchanged a serious of explicit sexual messages with the undercover agent, and agreed to meet for oral sex. Wilder was taken into custody on Dec. 10 on felony counts of attempted IDSI, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors and criminal use of a communication facility. Same bail and hearing date as the other suspects.
• Thurman-Miller believed a 14-year-old girl had posted an ad on an internet escort service. He responded to the ad, and asked to meet for the purpose of oral sex. A meetup was arranged for Dec. 9 and the suspect was taken into custody on felony counts of attempted IDSI, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, and criminal use of a communication facility. Same bail and hearing date as the other suspects.
Stollsteimer gave out kudos on the police work: “I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to NCIS Supervisory Special Agent George E. Ash and NCIS Special Agent Lisa Carroll for leading this effort to protect our nation’s children from online predators. Numerous departments and agencies contributed to this operation, including the Ridley Police Department, the Lower Makefield Township Police Department, the Tinicum Township Police Department, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and we owe themall a debt of gratitude. I also want to specifically thank CID Detective Sergeant and PA ICAC Task Force Commander Ken Bellis, as well as Chief Simpkins of the Tinicum Township Police Department for their contributions to the arrests we announce today.”