Operation Bad Santa: NJ teacher, youth worker among 12 in child predator sting

🚔 12 men accused in Middlesex County child predator sting after allegedly arranging meetings with minors who were actually undercover officers

🎓 A teacher and a youth program coordinator among those charged, raising concerns about access to children in New Jersey

🕵️ “Operation Bad Santa” spanned multiple NJ towns and involved local police, the FBI and Homeland Security

Middlesex County authorities have said they rounded up 12 accused child predators in a recent undercover sweep.

A teacher and a youth program coordinator were among men facing criminal charges as a result of “Operation Bad Santa.”

All 12 men, ranging in age from 23 to 65, were arrested over several days this month — Dec. 8 through Dec. 12, and Dec. 15.

Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said they each arranged to meet with an underage child but were actually chatting with undercover officers.

Defendants were arrested when they arrived at an undercover residence, where they expected to find the child.

Instead, they were met by several law enforcement officers, who arrested them.

Read More: Retired NJ teacher & "Santa for hire" accused of child abuse materials

Teacher and youth program worker among those charged

At least two of the men facing charges have professions that involve minors. Their current employment statuses were not immediately known.

Joseph Davicsin, of East Brunswick, was listed as a middle school teacher in Elizabeth.

Cameron Ameye, of Bloomingdale, was described as a Program Coordinator of Youth Rise at
Passaic County Community College.

List of accused men and charges filed in Operation Bad Santa

Davicsin, 46, of East Brunswick, was charged with second-degree luring and third-degree criminal attempt – endangering sexual conduct with a child.

Ameye, 33, of Bloomingdale, was charged with second-degree luring and third-degree criminal attempt – endangering sexual conduct with a child.

Read More: NJ State Police trooper gets prison for trying to meet 14-year-old

Delpis Reynoso-Castro, 26, of New Brunswick, was charged with second-degree luring and third-degree criminal attempt – endangering sexual conduct with a child.

Marcos Aguila, 57, of East Brunswick, was charged with second-degree luring and third-degree criminal attempt – endangering sexual conduct with a child.

Jose Leguia, 57, of Old Bridge, was charged with second-degree luring and third-degree criminal attempt – endangering sexual conduct with a child.

Hareshkumar “Harry” Vala, 44, of Dunellen, was charged with second-degree luring and third-degree criminal attempt – endangering sexual conduct with a child.

Vedant Khandelwal, 38, of Bridgewater, was charged with second-degree luring and third-degree criminal attempt – endangering sexual conduct with a child.

Kevin Knox, 65, of North Brunswick, was charged with second-degree luring and third-degree criminal attempt – endangering sexual conduct with a child.

Jorge Mora, 52, of Jackson, was charged with second-degree luring, third-degree criminal attempt – endangering sexual conduct with a child, and third-degree criminal attempt - distributing obscene material to a minor.

Akash Shah, 23, of East Brunswick, was charged with second-degree luring, third-degree distributing obscene material to a minor and third-degree endangering sexual conduct with a child.

Raul Angeles, 53, of Asbury Park, was charged with third-degree criminal attempt - endangering sexual conduct with a child.

James Keating, 59, of Edison, was charged with third-degree criminal attempt - endangering sexual conduct with a child and third-degree distributing obscene material to a minor.

Multi-agency effort involved local police, FBI and Homeland Security

Operation Bad Santa was led by the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, with assistance from East Brunswick Police, FBI Newark, Edison Police, Highland Park Police, New Brunswick Police, Monroe Police, Piscataway Police, Sayreville Police, South River Police, Homeland Security, and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

Anyone with potential information on the case was asked to call the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-3300.

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