A dozen New Jersey men, including a high school teacher and a youth program coordinator, were arrested in a wide-ranging operation targeting minors called "Operation Bad Santa," according to authorities.

The suspects, ranging in age from 23 to 65, were arrested after allegedly attempting to lure minors for sex and showing up at a Middlesex County residence expecting to meet a minor, but instead were met by law enforcement officers, prosecutors said. The multi-agency undercover operation was led by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office Internet Crimes Against Minors Unit and ran for several days, from December 8 to 15. Investigators said undercover officers posed as minors during conversations on social media and messaging apps, leading the men to the location where the arrests were made. Most of the defendants were charged with second-degree enticement and third-degree criminal attempt at dangerous sexual conduct with a minor, felonies that carry the possibility of state prison sentences if convicted. The suspects were 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 charges related to the alleged distribution of obscene material to a minor. Raul Angeles,James Davicsin, 53, of Asbury Park, and James Keating, 59, of Edison, were charged with attempted dangerous sexual conduct with a minor in the third degree. Keating also faces an additional charge of distributing obscene material to a minor. The prosecution stated that two of the defendants held positions of trust working with youth. Ameye worked as a program coordinator for Youth Rise, an academic readiness and career guidance program at Passaic County Community College, while Davicsin worked as a high school teacher in Elizabeth, authorities said. Local police departments throughout Middlesex County participated in the operation, along with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security. Authorities stated that the investigation is ongoing and 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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