Tag:

Cyber Crime

Newtown Man Arrested After 'Predator' Vigilante Group Claims It Posed As 11-Year-Old In Sting Newtown Man Arrested After 'Predator' Vigilante Group Claims It Posed As 11-Year-Old In Sting
Newtown Man Arrested After 'Predator' Vigilante Group Claims It Posed As 11-Year-Old In Sting A 48-year-old Connecticut man is facing serious charges after police say he had inappropriate conversations with someone he believed to be under age 16. Paul W. Melnick, of Newtown, was arrested Friday, Feb. 27, following a police investigation that began with a complaint received the day before, Newtown police said. Authorities said the case is still under investigation. According to investigators, Melnick allegedly engaged in “inappropriate communications” with a person he thought was a minor. As a result, he was charged with enticing a minor by computer, harmful communication with a mino…
Former Corrections Sergeant From Valley Cottage Admits To 128 Child Exploitation Charges: DA Former Corrections Sergeant From Valley Cottage Admits To 128 Child Exploitation Charges: DA
Former Corrections Sergeant From Valley Cottage Admits To 128 Child Exploitation Charges: DA A former Rockland County Jail sergeant has admitted to dozens of child exploitation charges after investigators uncovered disturbing images and videos stored on his Google Drive account, prosecutors announced.  Daniel Dworkin, age 45, of Valley Cottage, pleaded guilty to 64 counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child and 64 counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child, Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II said Tuesday, Sept. 16.  According to prosecutors, between February and June 2024, Dworkin uploaded numerous files depicting sexual performances b…
Child Sexual Abuse Material Found On Guilderland Man's Computer After Tip: NY State Police Child Sexual Abuse Material Found On Guilderland Man's Computer After Tip: NY State Police
Child Sexual Abuse Material Found On Guilderland Man's Computer After Tip: NY State Police A Guilderland man is accused of promoting and possessing child sexual abuse material, State Police announced on Friday, Sept. 12. Charles Markose, 40, was arrested on Monday, Sept. 8, following an investigation by State Police of Latham, with assistance from the Troop G Computer Crimes Unit, the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, authorities said. Markose is accused of promoting and possessing images consistent with child sexual exploitation, police detailed in the release. His arrest followed the execution of a search warrant at his Gu…
ICE Detains Ocean City Resident During Child Porn Raid, But Family Says He Wasn't Involved ICE Detains Ocean City Resident During Child Porn Raid, But Family Says He Wasn't Involved
ICE Detains Ocean City Resident During Child Porn Raid, But Family Says He Wasn't Involved A man was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a federal raid in New Jersey, even though he was not the subject of the investigation, according to officials and immigrant advocacy groups. The Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that a search warrant was executed on the 800 block of Asbury Avenue in Ocean City (Cape May County) as part of an ongoing child exploitation investigation on Tuesday, July 29.  Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland said the warrant stemmed from a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which identifi…
2 Busted For Trying To Exploit Children Over Internet In Clarkstown: Police 2 Busted For Trying To Exploit Children Over Internet In Clarkstown: Police
2 Busted For Trying To Exploit Children Over Internet In Clarkstown: Police Two suspects accused of trying to exploit children online, including an 18-year-old man, have been arrested in Rockland County as part of a joint law enforcement operation, authorities announced. The arrests happened following a targeted operation conducted on Wednesday, June 4 by the Clarkstown Police Department and New York State Police, Clarkstown Police announced on Tuesday, June 10.  The operation focused on tracking down individuals involved in the online exploitation of minors. Investigators used cyber tactics to identify and intercept suspects attempting to contact children thr…
Ridge Teacher Accused Of Requesting Nudes, Engaging In Sex Chats With Kids Charged Again Ridge Teacher Accused Of Requesting Nudes, Engaging In Sex Chats With Kids Charged Again
Ridge Teacher Accused Of Requesting Nudes, Engaging In Sex Chats With Kids Charged Again A Long Island teacher previously accused of posing as a juvenile and engaging in online sexual behavior with pre-teens is facing a fresh round of charges. Ryan McCaffery, 37, of Ridge, was arrested again Monday, May 12, by New York State Police and charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors connected to alleged online activity involving underage victims. McCaffery is accused of using a Snapchat account to engage in highly inappropriate and exploitative conversations with minors under the age of 14 in December 2024, police said. He now faces the following charges in Suffolk County: …
Child Exploitation Sting: Haverstraw Man Accused Of Talking To Minors Online, Police Say Child Exploitation Sting: Haverstraw Man Accused Of Talking To Minors Online, Police Say
Child Exploitation Sting: Haverstraw Man Accused Of Talking To Minors Online, Police Say An undercover operation targeting online child exploitation has led to the arrest of a Rockland County man, authorities announced.  Moses Goldstein, age 34, of Haverstraw, was taken into custody following a multi-day operation carried out by the New York State Police, the FBI, and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, State Police said on Friday, April 11.  Investigators used advanced cyber tactics to access platforms commonly used to facilitate child exploitation and allegedly found Goldstein attempting to engage with minors online and arrange in-person meetings. He…
Child Porn: Woman, 32, Accused Of Transmitting Videos, Pics From Southeast Home, Police Say Child Porn: Woman, 32, Accused Of Transmitting Videos, Pics From Southeast Home, Police Say
Child Porn: Woman, 32, Accused Of Transmitting Videos, Pics From Southeast Home, Police Say A 32-year-old woman faces child porn charges after allegedly transmitting explicit videos and pictures over the internet from her Putnam County home, authorities said. Southeast resident Danielle Sawicki, age 32, was arrested following a search of her residence on Tuesday, Feb. 18, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office announced on Tuesday, March 4.  According to the Sheriff's Office, in July 2024, investigators received a cyber tip from the New York State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force related to explicit materials being transmitted from a Putnam County home. On…
NY Teacher Requested Nudes, Engaged In Sex Acts With Two Kids Online: Bergen Prosecutor NY Teacher Requested Nudes, Engaged In Sex Acts With Two Kids Online: Bergen Prosecutor
NY Teacher Requested Nudes, Engaged In Sex Acts With Two Kids Online: Bergen Prosecutor A 37-year-old Long Island teacher is facing charges out of Bergen County after authorities said he pretended to be a juvenile and engaged in online sexual behavior with pre-teens. Ryan J. McCaffery, of Ridge, NY became the center of an investigation last month when the Tenafly Police Department and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit regarding a sexual online chat conversation that occurred in 2022 between a juvenile victim under the age of 13 and an online stranger, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. McCaffery, who authorities confirmed works as a teacher,…
Teens Charged In Bergen County School Swattings, Prosecutor Says Teens Charged In Bergen County School Swattings, Prosecutor Says
Teens Charged In Bergen County School Swattings, Prosecutor Says Three teenagers—including two from Bergen County and one from the Bronx—have been charged in connection with hoax shooting threats that forced lockdowns at two New Jersey schools, authorities said. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Threat Management Unit was notified on Thursday, Jan. 23, that anonymous callers had phoned in shooting threats to Lincoln Elementary School in Fairview and Ridgefield Park Junior/Senior High School, Prosecutor Mark Musella announced. The threats prompted an immediate response from local law enforcement, including the Fairview and Ridgefield Park Police Depar…
Young Children Having Sex With Dogs Among Pornography Shared By Bensalem Man: Police Young Children Having Sex With Dogs Among Pornography Shared By Bensalem Man: Police
Young Children Having Sex With Dogs Among Pornography Shared By Bensalem Man: Police A Bensalem man is accused of sharing child pornography involving prepubescent children and animals through a Kik messaging account, authorities announced on Tuesday, Feb. 5. Terrel Roane, 21, was arrested following an investigation that began with a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) on Jan. 7, according to Bensalem Police. The tip alerted authorities that a Kik account under the name "Ruckybuckets" was distributing explicit files depicting an adult woman sexually abusing a young boy, as well as prepubescent children engaging in sex acts with dogs,…
New Brunswick Man Possessed Child Porn: Prosecutor New Brunswick Man Possessed Child Porn: Prosecutor
New Brunswick Man Possessed Child Porn: Prosecutor A 22-year-old New Brunswick man was arrested on Friday, Jan. 24 and charged with possessing child pornography, authorities said. Mark Newman was arrested after authorities receive a cyber tip from New Jersey State Police, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and New Brunswick Police Chief Vincent Sabo said. He was charged with possession of child sexual abuse material, authorities said 
Overdose Death Of Bucks County EMS Worker Uncovers Online Pharmacy Operation: Warrington PD Overdose Death Of Bucks County EMS Worker Uncovers Online Pharmacy Operation: Warrington PD
Overdose Death Of Bucks County EMS Worker Uncovers Online Pharmacy Operation: Warrington PD An overdose death in Bucks County led to the takedown of an illicit online pharmacy based in the Dominican Republic, Warrington Township police announced in a press release issued Monday, Jan. 6. The investigation began in April 2022 after a Bucks County EMS first responder died of a drug overdose, police said. The day after the victim’s death, a FedEx package containing Valium and Rivotril (Clonazepam) was delivered to their residence in Bucks County, according to investigators. Detectives traced the drugs to an online pharmacy operating under the domain “Sure Life Solutions,” police said.…
Man Who Posed As Teen, Exploiting Children Sentenced: Lancaster County DA Man Who Posed As Teen, Exploiting Children Sentenced: Lancaster County DA
Man Who Posed As Teen, Exploiting Children Sentenced: Lancaster County DA A Lancaster County man has been sentenced to 2.5 to 10 years in state prison after admitting to sexually exploiting juveniles online and stockpiling an enormous collection of child pornography, the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office announced Friday, Dec. 20. Kenneth Lee Schmidt, 46, of East Earl Township, pleaded guilty to 49 felony charges, including possession and dissemination of child pornography, solicitation of minors, and corruption of minors, prosecutors said. Schmidt’s state sentence will run concurrently with the 35-year federal sentence he is already serving for related…
Wayne Woman, 72, Made Bomb Threat That Locked Down Holy Name Medical Center: Prosecutor Wayne Woman, 72, Made Bomb Threat That Locked Down Holy Name Medical Center: Prosecutor
Wayne Woman, 72, Made Bomb Threat That Locked Down Holy Name Medical Center: Prosecutor A 72-year-old woman has been charged with calling in a bomb threat to Holy Name Medical in August, authorities said. Adele Ulrich, of Wayne, called the hospital on Aug. 17 saying that several bombs were going to detonate in the hospital, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said following a months-long investigation. The hospital was placed on divert, and a shelter-in-place order was implemented, bringing police officers, firefighters, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad to the scene. Ultimately, first responders determined that the call was a hoax, and no act…
Troy Man Nabbed For Child Porn After Cyber Tip Troy Man Nabbed For Child Porn After Cyber Tip
Troy Man Nabbed For Child Porn After Cyber Tip A Captial Region man was busted with child pornography after New York State Police received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Rensselaer County resident Andrew M. Squillari, age 26, of Troy, was charged on Wednesday, Oct. 23, following an investigation by the State Police and the US Department of Homeland Security. According to Trooper Stephanie O'Neil, Squillari is accused of promoting and possessing images consistent with child sexual exploitation.  His arrest followed an investigation and the execution of a search warrant at his residence…
River Edge Man, 22, Arrested On Child Porn Charges: Prosecutor River Edge Man, 22, Arrested On Child Porn Charges: Prosecutor
River Edge Man, 22, Arrested On Child Porn Charges: Prosecutor A 22-year-old River Edge man was arrested and charged with distributing and possessing child pornography on Friday, Oct. 18, authorities said. A search warrant was executed at the home of Andrew Baker as part of an investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said.  The investigation revealed Baker used the Internet to view, download, possess, distribute, and share items depicting nude and/or sexually explicit prepubescent and pubescent children, Musella said. Baker was charged with distributing and possessing chi…
Online Tip Leads To Child Porn Arrest Of Suffolk County Man Online Tip Leads To Child Porn Arrest Of Suffolk County Man
Online Tip Leads To Child Porn Arrest Of Suffolk County Man A Long Island man has been accused of possessing child porn. The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation began the probe based on a cyber tip generated by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program. On Thursday, Aug. 15,  a search warrant was executed, and Guenther Mayrhofer, age 71, of Mastic Beach, was apprehended and charged. State Police seized items from the suspect's residence, including cell phones, tablets, laptops, hard drives, and other media storage devices, such as SD cards and USB drives. (See the image above.) Mayrhofer was processed a…
Snapchat Sextortion: PA Man Demanding More Nude Photos Arrested, Bergen Prosecutor Says Snapchat Sextortion: PA Man Demanding More Nude Photos Arrested, Bergen Prosecutor Says
Snapchat Sextortion: PA Man Demanding More Nude Photos Arrested, Bergen Prosecutor Says A Pennsylvania man was arrested in Bergen County, NJ after authorities said he extorted a victim over Snapchat using nude photos. Jourden Battle, of Tobyhanna, PA, was identified by authorities following information that came from Mahwah police last April, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. The criminal complaint obtained by Daily Voice says Battle extorted her for nude photos over Snapchat and text messages. Battle threatened to expose nude photos from the victim that he had already gotten if she didn't send more, the complaint says. Detectives traced the phone numbers and o…
South Jersey Man Shared Child Pornography: Prosecutor South Jersey Man Shared Child Pornography: Prosecutor
South Jersey Man Shared Child Pornography: Prosecutor A 48-year-old man from Burlington County has been charged with possessing and sharing child pornography, authorities said. Dominic Constantine, of Marlton, was taken into custody at his residence on Wednesday, July 3, according to Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw and Evesham Township Police Chief Walt Miller. He was charged with Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) on a File Sharing Program (First Degree), Possession of CSAM with Intent to Distribute (First Degree), Distribution of CSAM (First Degree), and Possession of CSAM (Second Degree), they said. He wa…
Bensalem Man Busted With Prepubescent Child Porn, Police Say Bensalem Man Busted With Prepubescent Child Porn, Police Say
Bensalem Man Busted With Prepubescent Child Porn, Police Say A Bensalem man is in police custody on child pornography charges, township police say.  Michael Dunbar, 55, is also charged with criminal use of a communications facility, according to authorities.  Police said they received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about a Google account linked to Dunbar in April. The account had saved and uploaded "numerous videos depicting child pornography, including prepubescent boys and girls engaging in sexual acts with each other," authorities said.  A search warrant was executed at Dunbar's State Road h…
'Child Sexual Abuse Material' On Kik Traced To Bucks County Man, Police Say 'Child Sexual Abuse Material' On Kik Traced To Bucks County Man, Police Say
'Child Sexual Abuse Material' On Kik Traced To Bucks County Man, Police Say A Warrington man is in police custody on child pornography charges, authorities say.  Police said they received a cyber tip in March that a Kik Messenger account "shared, disseminated, and/or uploaded apparent child sexual abuse material" on the platform.  The account was later linked to 51-year-old Christos Rallis, authorities said.  Police obtained an arrest warrant and Rallis surrendered on June 7, Warrington PD said. His bail was set at 10 percent of $250,000 and he has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Aug. 5, according to court records.  The Bucks County Distri…
Long Island Man, 30, Nabbed On Child Porn Charges, Police Say Long Island Man, 30, Nabbed On Child Porn Charges, Police Say
Long Island Man, 30, Nabbed On Child Porn Charges, Police Say A man on Long Island has been found to be in possession of child pornography, authorities announced. Dylan Mulvihill, age 30, was arrested on Wednesday, May 29, New York State Police announced. A cyber tip generated by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) led state investigators to obtain a search warrant against Mulvihill, who lives in Mastic. After seizing Mulvihill’s computers, cell phones, USB, hard drives, and more, he was arrested and charged with the following: Possession of a sexual performance by a child, three counts; Promoting a sexual performance by a child, three…
Community Rallying Support For Volunteer FD Robbed Of $200K Earmarked For Ambulances In MD Community Rallying Support For Volunteer FD Robbed Of $200K Earmarked For Ambulances In MD
Community Rallying Support For Volunteer FD Robbed Of $200K Earmarked For Ambulances In MD Thousands of dollars have been raised by a community after cyber criminals got the best of a Maryland fire department that was bilked out of more than $200,000 that was planned to purchase two ambulances. The Rockville Volunteer Fire Department issued an alert earlier this month advising that a group posing as a vendor the agency had been working with in late April robbed them as they continue efforts to recover the cash. According to the department, the Montgomery County Department of Police, US Secret Service, and FBI have all been notified, and their bank has been able to return approxim…
23-Year-Old Man Gets Decades In Prison For Sexual Offenses Against 3 Children In Westchester 23-Year-Old Man Gets Decades In Prison For Sexual Offenses Against 3 Children In Westchester
23-Year-Old Man Gets Decades In Prison For Sexual Offenses Against 3 Children In Westchester A 23-year-old Westchester man will spend decades in prison for engaging in sexual acts with three children whom he physically and psychologically abused over several years, officials said. New Rochelle resident Jason Ricketts was sentenced on Thursday, April 4 to 21 years in prison for sexual acts involving three children, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office announced.  According to the DA's Office, Ricketts' crimes began in 2019, when he befriended children as young as 8 years old by going to locations where young people gathered and convincing them and their parent…
Massachusetts Sex Offender Faces Child Porn Charge Massachusetts Sex Offender Faces Child Porn Charge
Massachusetts Sex Offender Faces Child Porn Charge A Massachusetts sex offender has been charged with possessing child pornography after an investigation allegedly uncovered hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse material on his cell phone. Suffolk County resident Kenneth Higgins, age 45, of Revere, was arrested on Wednesday, March 13, and charged with possession of child pornography and possession of child pornography, third offense. Dave Procopio of the Massachusetts State Police said Higgins, who is classified as a Level 2 Sex Offender, has multiple prior convictions for possession of child sexual abuse materials; he is c…
PA Comcast User Caught On Kik With Child Porn: Police PA Comcast User Caught On Kik With Child Porn: Police
PA Comcast User Caught On Kik With Child Porn: Police A Lancaster County man was caught uploading child pornography police announced on Monday, Dec. 4.  Michael Edward Fine used his home internet connection to post child pornography onto the app KIK in October, local police found out from the Internet Crimes Against Children through a Cybertip, as explained in the police release. Through an investigation, the New Holland police learned that Fine "upload[ed] multiple videos containing child pornography" using his Comcast IP address, as stated in the release. A search warrant was issued and executed at Fine's home in the 100 block of East …
CHILD SEX STING: German 'Perv To Some Extent' Admits Flying Into NJ To Abuse Children CHILD SEX STING: German 'Perv To Some Extent' Admits Flying Into NJ To Abuse Children
Child SEX Sting: German 'Perv To Some Extent' Admits Flying Into NJ To Abuse Children UPDATE: A German man admitted in federal court in Newark that he flew to New Jersey for what he thought would be sex with children as young as 10 years old. Christian Stefan Walther, 39, of Erfurt, communicated with what turned out to be two undercover New Jersey State Police detectives via email, phone, and an encrypted messaging app, authorities said. The officers had posed as members of a group of predators who had access to young children, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said. Walther, who called himself a "perv to some extent," expressed a "desire to engage in sexual …
Western Mass Man, Ex-Head Of 'Recount' News Site Had 'Large' Amount Of Child Porn: Police Western Mass Man, Ex-Head Of 'Recount' News Site Had 'Large' Amount Of Child Porn: Police
Western Mass Man, Ex-Head Of 'Recount' News Site Had 'Large' Amount Of Child Porn: Police A 44-year-old Berkshire County man and former editor-in-chief of a popular news site faces multiple felonies after he allegedly amassed a trove of child sexual abuse material featuring children as young as 3, authorities said. He also took is accused of taking part in discussions on how to abduct and rape children.  Slade Sohmer, of Otis, was arrested on Monday, Nov. 13, following a lengthy investigation and charged with two counts of having child porn and two counts of dissemination of child pornography, the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office said. More charges are expect…
Westfield Students Made AI-Generated Nude Images Of Female Classmates: Officials Westfield Students Made AI-Generated Nude Images Of Female Classmates: Officials
Westfield Students Made Ai-generated Nude Images Of Female Classmates: Officials The Westfield School District said it is investigating after male students made AI-generated nude images of their female classmates. Mary Ann McGann, a spokeswoman for the district, said the incident took place over the summer and was brought to the attention of administrators on Friday, Oct. 20. The Wall Street Journal first reported the story on Thursday, Nov. 2.  The administration began an immediate investigation and police were notified, McGann said. All the images have been deleted and are not being circulated, Principal Mary Asfendis said in an e-mail to parents. Citing confide…
Clifton Man Seized In $13M Indian Tech Support Scam: Seniors, Small Biz Owners Among Victims Clifton Man Seized In $13M Indian Tech Support Scam: Seniors, Small Biz Owners Among Victims
Clifton Man Seized In $13M Indian Tech Support Scam: Seniors, Small Biz Owners Among Victims FBI agents seized a Clifton man in connection with an India-based $13 million tech support scam that targeted more than 7,000 victims, most of them elderly or small business owners, authorities said. Manoj Yadav, a 40-year-old Indian-American, collected an estimated $2.2 million for his services before sending the rest to an unspecified number of associates overseas, federal investigators charged. Together, the cyber-scammers “misled their numerous victims into thinking that they were a legitimate technology support company affiliated with a major software company,” U.S. Attorney Philip R. …