Crime

Operation Home Alone: 5 Rockland men arrested in New Jersey child sex predator sting

Published

7 years ago

April 24, 2019

New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo today announced arrests of 16 alleged child predators in “Operation Home Alone,” a multi-agency undercover operation targeting men who allegedly were using social media in an attempt to lure underage girls and boys for sexual activity.

The underage “children” were, in fact, undercover officers. Most of the defendants were arrested when they arrived at a residence in Bergen County, where they allegedly expected to find their victim home alone. Instead, they found law enforcement officers prepared to arrest them and process any evidence seized.

The arrests in Operation Home Alone were made over a five-day period from April 11 through April 15. Seven defendants travelled to the undercover house from locations in New York State, and one traveled from Philadelphia.

The five men charged in ‘Operation Home Alone’ from Rockland County:

1. Kevin Roth, 26, Nanuet, N.Y. (Boy, 14) Roth is a teacher at the High School of Computers and Technology in Bronx, N.Y. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree). BCPO is prosecuting

2. Dariush Ghamarnezhad, 37, of Pomona, N.Y. (Girl, 14) Ghamarnezhad is a dental hygienist. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree). DCJ is prosecuting.

3. Shaheen Lariff, 49, of New City, N.Y. (Boy, 15) Lariff is a bank branch office manager. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree). DCJ is prosecuting.

4. Yosef Kriger, 31, of New City, N.Y. (Girl, 14) Kriger is a pharmaceuticals delivery driver. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree), Attempted Debauching Morals of a Child (3rd degree). BCPO is prosecuting.

5. Teodoro Alvarez Ortega, 28, of Suffern, N.Y. (Boy, 14) Avarez Ortega is a restaurant server. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree), Attempted Debauching Morals of a Child (3rd degree), Attempted Showing Obscene Material to a Minor (3rd degree). DCJ is prosecuting.

PRESS RELEASE – AG GREWAL ANNOUNCES ARRESTS OF 16 MEN IN “OPERATION HOME ALONE”

Crime

Attempted Murder Arrest After Barbershop Shooting in Ramapo; Suspect in Custody

Published

4 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Rockland Report Admin

Police in Ramapo have arrested a suspect in connection with a late-night shooting that left a man seriously injured.

According to the Ramapo Police Department, officers responded around 10:30 p.m. on April 17, 2026, to reports of gunfire at Veloz Barbershop. When officers arrived, they found a 59-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Emergency responders from Rockland Paramedics and Spring Hill Ambulance treated the victim at the scene before transporting him to Westchester Medical Center. Officials said he is currently listed in stable condition.

Authorities said the suspect fled the scene in a vehicle but was later located by a patrol unit from the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office near 150 West Eckerson Road. Responding Ramapo officers took the 50-year-old man into custody without incident.

The Spring Valley Police Department and New York State Police assisted at the scene. Investigators later recovered both the vehicle believed to have been used in the incident and the firearm at a separate location, with help from the Rockland County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

The suspect has been charged with attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree, and criminal use of a firearm. He was arraigned before Judge Silva, who set bail at $750,000 cash, $900,000 bond, or $1,000,000 partially secured bond. The defendant was remanded to the Rockland County Jail pending a future court appearance.

Police said the shooting appears to be an isolated incident and that there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Crime

Spring Valley Double Murder Arrest: Two Charged in 2025 Dutch Lane Shooting

Published

19 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Rockland Report Admin

On September 20, 2025, around 5:12 PM, officers from the Spring Valley Police Department responded to reports of gunfire near 2 Dutch Lane. They found a 20-year-old man with a gunshot wound and began CPR until EMS arrived. The victim was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

After several months of investigation, on April 16, 2026, police arrested two suspects:

Doodly Metellus, 21, of Ramapo
Smay Dornaison, 20, of Spring Valley

Metellus was found with a loaded firearm at the time of his arrest. He faces charges of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Dornaison is also charged with second-degree murder.

Both were arraigned in Spring Valley Justice Court and are being held at the Rockland County Jail.

Authorities emphasize that the charges are accusations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Anyone with information is asked to contact the police at 845-356-7400.