Bridgewater Man Arrested As Part Of 'Operation Bad Santa'

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A Bridgewater man was among 12 alleged child predators who were arrested as part of "Operation Bad Santa," said Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone on Monday.

The multi-agency undercover operation targeted people who were allegedly using social media and various online messaging applications to try to lure underage children for sexual activity.

From Dec. 8 through Dec. 15, 12 men were arrested and charged, including Vedant Khandelwal, 38, of Bridgewater.

Khandelwal was charged with second-degree luring and third-degree criminal attempt – endangering sexual conduct with a child.

As part of the operation, undercover officers posed as underage "children" and spoke with the 12 men, said Ciccone.

The men were arrested when they arrived at an undercover home, where they expected to find the child and ended up finding law enforcement officers, said Ciccone.

"This operation demonstrates our shared commitment to protecting children and holding offenders accountable," said Stefanie Roddy, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Newark. "Working alongside the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, the East Brunswick Police Department, and our law enforcement partners, we will continue to identify, locate, and arrest individuals who seek to sexually exploit minors. Anyone who believes they can target children in our communities without consequence should understand that law enforcement is united, vigilant, and will respond with unified and aggressive enforcement."

Operation Bad Santa was led by the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, with assistance from, the East Brunswick Police Department, FBI Newark, Edison Police Department, Highland Park Police Department, New Brunswick Police Department, Monroe Police Department, Piscataway Police Department, Sayreville Police Department, South River Police Department, Homeland Security, and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-3300.

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