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.
Five people have been arrested following a multiagency Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) operation targeting individuals accused of attempting to sexually exploit minors online, the New York State Police announced.
The investigation, conducted over several days in June, used undercover investigators and cyber investigative techniques to identify suspects who allegedly communicated online with individuals they believed were children and attempted to arrange in-person meetings for illegal sexual activity.
The operation involved the New York State Police, Rockland County Sheriff’s Office, Town of Ramapo Police Department, Rockland County Intelligence Center, FBI Rye Safe Streets Task Force, and New York State Intelligence Center.
Authorities said the suspects face felony and misdemeanor charges, and investigators are continuing to review digital evidence for possible additional victims or offenses.
Officials credited the coordinated effort among law enforcement agencies for helping identify and arrest individuals before they could harm children, emphasizing that protecting children remains a top priority.
Arrested Individuals:
Oleksandr Vershok, 36, Brooklyn, New York
Charged with:
Attempted Rape in the Second Degree (Class E Felony)
Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class B Misdemeanor)
On June 12, 2026, Vershok was arraigned in the Town of Ramapo Court before the Honorable Alejandra Silva and remanded to the Rockland County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail, $100,000 bond, or a $150,000 partially secured bond.
Anthony J. Kamycki, 36, Ronkonkoma, New York
Charged with:
Attempted Rape in the Second Degree (Class E Felony)
Attempted Disseminating Indecent Materials to a Minor in the First Degree (Class E Felony)
Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class B Misdemeanor)
On June 12, 2026, Kamycki was arraigned in the Town of Ramapo Court before the Honorable Alejandra Silva and remanded to the Rockland County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail, $100,000 bond, or a $150,000 partially secured bond.
Ritchy D. Mercure, 24, Spring Valley, New York
Charged with:
Attempted Rape in the Second Degree (Class E Felony)
Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class B Misdemeanor)
On June 13, 2026, Mercure was arraigned in the Town of Ramapo Court before the Honorable Alejandra Silva and remanded to the Rockland County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail, $100,000 bond, or a $150,000 partially secured bond.
Alex Garrett, 26, Secaucus, New Jersey
Charged with:
Two Counts of Attempted Rape in the Second Degree (Class E Felony)
Attempted Unlawful Dealing with a Child in the First Degree (Class B Misdemeanor)
Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class B Misdemeanor)
On June 13, 2026, Garrett was arraigned in the Town of Ramapo Court before the Honorable Alejandra Silva and remanded to the Rockland County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail, $100,000 bond, or a $150,000 partially secured bond.
Bryan J. Wylong, 24, Poughkeepsie, New York
Charged with:
Three Counts of Attempted Rape in the Second Degree (Class E Felony)
Attempted Disseminating Indecent Materials to a Minor in the First Degree (Class E Felony)
Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class B Misdemeanor)
On June 23, 2026, Wylong was arraigned at the Orange County Centralized Arraignment before the Honorable Karen A. Amundson and remanded to the Orange County Jail in lieu of $7,500 cash bail, $15,000 bond, or a $30,000 partially secured bond.
The New York State Police emphasize that these arrests are merely accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Anyone who may have information related to these individuals or who believes they may have been a victim is encouraged to contact the New York State Police Troop F Headquarters at (845) 344-5300.
The New York State Police remain committed, alongside our local, county, state, and federal law enforcement partners, to identifying individuals who exploit children online, protecting vulnerable victims, and holding offenders accountable.
A 32-year-old New Jersey woman has been charged following an alleged road rage incident in the Village of Montebello that police say involved an imitation handgun and occurred with her 9-year-old daughter in the vehicle.
According to the Ramapo Police Department, officers responded at approximately 8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 2, to the area of Hemion Road and Lackawanna Trail after receiving a report of a road rage incident that may have involved a handgun.
Police said the confrontation began on the northbound Exit 14B off-ramp of the New York State Thruway before continuing to Hemion Road and Lackawanna Trail. The suspect had left the area before officers arrived.
After broadcasting a description of the suspect and vehicle, officers located the vehicle a short time later traveling eastbound on Route 59.
Following an investigation, police arrested the New Jersey woman and recovered an imitation pistol that investigators believe was used during the incident. Police also determined the woman’s 9-year-old daughter was inside the vehicle during the alleged confrontation.
The woman has been charged with two counts of second-degree menacing, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, endangering the welfare of a child, and second-degree harassment.
She was being held at the Ramapo Police Department pending arraignment.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Editor’s Note: A criminal complaint is an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.