2 From Passaic County Arrested In Statewide Child Porn Bust

Two alleged child predators from Passaic County were arrested in a massive child protection sting called Operation Home Alone, authorities announced Wednesday.

The operation was a multi-agency undercover operation targeting men who allegedly used social media to try to lure underage boys and girls for sexual activity, a press release from New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal stated.

Sixteen men were arrested. The two from Passaic County are:

• Joel Guichardo, 38, of Passaic Guichardo thought he was talking to a 14-year-old girl. He is a barbershop owner. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree), Attempted Debauching Morals of a Child (3rd degree). The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office is prosecuting.
• Michael Mancini, 36, of Hawthorne Mancini thought he was speaking to a 14-year-old girl. He is a supermarket employee and disc jockey. Charges: Luring (2nd degree), Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor (2nd degree), Attempted Debauching Morals of a Child (3rd degree). The state Division of Criminal Justice is prosecuting.

Many of the men were arrested at an undercover Bergen County residence where they allegedly thought they would find their victims home alone, according to Grewal.

The undercover residence was staffed with dozens of law enforcement officers and evidence technicians. Attorneys were stationed at the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, according to the release. Electronic devices that were seized from the defendants were previewed at the scene by evidence technicians when defendants gave consent.

Related: Cop, Minister Among 16 Alleged NJ Child Predators In Massive Bust

Two men are charged with having child pornography on their electronic devices, including one who allegedly had more than 13,000 files of suspected child pornography on his phone, and a second who was already facing sentencing on a prior child pornography charge filed by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, according to the release.

The defendants typically initiated contact based on profiles posted on social media platforms by the undercover detectives and agents. The social platforms that were used in these encounters included Kik, Skout, Grindr, Tinder, MeetMe, and Adam4Adam, according to the release.

Once chatting began, the undercover officers clearly identified themselves as underage girls or boys. Despite that information, the defendants allegedly engaged the purported "children" in conversations about sex and made arrangements to meet the "children" for sex.

"Parents need to be aware of their children's activities on the internet, and if children appear anxious or evasive when this topic is raised, it may be a red flag," said Grewal. "It is critical that parents talk to their children about social media and chat apps to let them know that the people they encounter may not be who they initially seem to be."

For more information about the operation, along with the identities of the other people charged, click here.

With reporting by Tom Davis, Patch staff