A dozen New Jersey men — including a middle school teacher and a youth program coordinator — were busted in a sweeping child sex sting dubbed “Operation Bad Santa,” according to authorities.
The suspects, ranging in age from 23 to 65, were arrested after allegedly trying to lure minors for sex and showing up at a Middlesex County residence expecting to meet a child — only to be met by law enforcement instead, prosecutors said.
The multi-agency undercover operation was led by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and unfolded over several days between Dec. 8 and Dec. 15.
Investigators said undercover officers posed as children during online conversations on social media and messaging apps, steering the men to the location where arrests were made.
Most of the defendants were charged with second-degree luring and third-degree criminal attempt to endanger sexual conduct with a child — serious felonies that carry the possibility of state prison time if convicted.
The suspects have been identified as Delpis Reynoso-Castro, 26, of New Brunswick; Marcos Aguila, 57, of East Brunswick; Jose Leguia, 57, of Old Bridge; Hareshkumar “Harry” Vala, 44, of Dunellen; Vedant Khandelwal, 38, of Bridgewater; Kevin Knox, 65, of North Brunswick; Cameron Ameye, 33, of Bloomingdale; and Joseph Davicsin, 46, of East Brunswick.
Jorge Mora, 52, of Jackson, and Akash Shah, 23, of East Brunswick, also face counts related to allegedly distributing obscene material to a minor.
Raul Angeles, 53, of Asbury Park, and James Keating, 59, of Edison, were charged with third-degree attempted endangering sexual conduct with a child. Keating also faces an additional charge of distributing obscene material to a minor.
Prosecutors said two of the defendants held positions of trust working with young people.
Ameye was employed as a program coordinator for Youth Rise — an academic readiness and career pathways program at Passaic County Community College — while Davicsin worked as a middle school teacher in Elizabeth, officials said.
Their employers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Davicsin’s attorney, Michael Chazen, said his client maintains his innocence and urged the public not to rush to judgment. Attorneys for Angeles and another defendant declined to comment, while lawyers for the remaining men did not respond to requests.
The operation involved local police departments across Middlesex County, along with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.
Officials said the investigation remains ongoing and emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Authorities said the arrests highlight the continued focus on online child exploitation — particularly during the holiday season — and warned parents to remain vigilant about their children’s online activity.
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