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In a three-day operation that was led by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service with assistance from the FBI, state police, and local authorities, undercover law enforcement officers "assumed the identity of a minor" online, the DA said.
At the sting's end on Dec. 11, six men aged 24 to 56 were taken into custody, officials said:
- Joseph P. Fahy, 48, of Media, is accused to trying to meet a 14-year-old male for sex. He was arrested at the site of the planned meetup, police said.
- Laurence D. Tom, 47, of Philadelphia, is accused of responding to an online sex advertisement that he believed related to a 14-year-old female, police said. He made plans to meet in Tinicum Township and was arrested there, authorities said.
- Stephen L. Maghandy-Taghap, 37, of Philadelphia, is accused of responding to an online escort advertisement for an "agent" he believed was 14 years old. Police said Maghandy-Taghap offered to pay $100 for sex, and he was arrested at the proposed meetup site in Tinicum Township.
- Tyler A. Wilder, 30, of Glenmoore, is accused of sending explicit photos to an undercover officer that he believed was 14. Police said Wilder expressed concerns about "get[ting] in trouble," but agreed to meet in Tinicum Township, where he was arrested.
- Daniel J. Thurman-Miller, 24, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is accused of responding to an ad for a 14-year-old escort, police said. He was arrested at the meetup site, authorities wrote.
- Andrew Chang, 56, of Upper Darby, is accused of soliciting an "escort" he believed was 14. Police said Chang requested explicit photos from the decoy and was arrested trying to meet with "her" in Tinicum Township.
All six had bail set at $250,000, and each man appeared in court Monday, Dec. 19 for a preliminary hearing, the DA added.
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