Overview
- The Mercer County ICAC Task Force arrested eight men Tuesday in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut and charged them with counts that include attempted luring, attempted sexual assault and multiple counts of attempted endangering the welfare of a child.
- Officials say the operation began in March 2026 as a proactive measure ahead of the FIFA World Cup and relied on online monitoring and cyber investigative techniques to identify people using social platforms to contact minors.
- Federal, state and local agencies supported the probe, including the FBI Newark Division, Homeland Security Investigations in Trenton, the U.S. Marshals Service, New Jersey State Police and Mercer County special investigations units, which is how ICAC task forces pool resources to trace online communications and make arrests.
- Prosecutors announced a range of state charges carrying prison terms from months to years depending on degree and named several suspects by name while stressing that all are presumed innocent as cases move toward formal prosecution.
- Authorities said the investigation remains active, asked the public to submit tips via ICAC phone lines or anonymous online forms, and directed victims to national sexual assault resources and hotlines for support.