Officials arrested eight men in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut as part of a task force that cracked down on individuals who use social media to exploit and prey on children.
In March 2026, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force launched “Operation Guardian Angel,” in anticipation of the increased travel in New Jersey due to the FIFA World Cup. The initiative focused on identifying and capturing those who use online platforms to engage in illegal communication and activities with children.
The FBI – Newark Division, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations – Trenton Division, the U.S. Marshals, New Jersey State Police, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Unit and Hamilton Police all provided support and resources.
Through the operation, the (ICAC) Task Force arrested the following suspects:
- Jose Adolfo Samayoa Ortiz, 51, of Plainfield, NJ – Charged with two counts of third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child
- Kenneth Davis, 66, of East Haven, Conn. – Charged with two counts of third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child and one count of fourth-degree attempted criminal sexual contact
- Erik Gerstenacker, 36, of Hamilton, NJ – Charged with one count of third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child
- Joseph Nicosia, 72, of Philadelphia, Pa. – Charged with one count of second-degree attempted sexual assault and two counts of third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child
- Connor O’Leary, 30, of Moorestown, NJ – Charged with one count of second-degree attempted luring or enticing of a child, three counts of third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child and two counts of second-degree attempted sexual assault
- Brandon Lambert, 40, of Temple, Pa. – Charged with three counts of third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child
- Joseph Nesci, 55, of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ – Charged with one count of second-degree attempted luring or enticing of a child, one count of second-degree attempted sexual assault, three counts of third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child, one count of fourth-degree attempted criminal sexual contact and one count of second-degree attempted aggravated sexual contact
- Richard Dickenson, 48, of Philadelphia, Pa. – Charged with two counts of third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child
Top left to right: Jose Adolfo Samayoa Ortiz, Kenneth Davis, Erik Gerstenacker, Joseph Nicosia Bottom left to right: Connor O’Leary, Brandon Lambert, Joseph Nesci, Richard Dickenson
Investigators said two of the suspects were arrested after they traveled to Mercer County, New Jersey, to meet with people who they thought were underage children but were actually law enforcement officers.
“The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office remains committed to protecting children from online exploitation and ensuring that those who seek to victimize minors are held accountable,” Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta Marbrey said. “As major international events bring increased activity to the region, we will continue to proactively monitor and investigate threats to public safety, particularly those targeting vulnerable populations.”
If you have any information about suspected improper contact by people communicating with children on the internet or possible exploitation or sexual abuse of children, contact the ICAC Unit at 609-989-6568 or the New Jersey ICAC Task Force tip line at 888-648-6007. You can also submit an anonymous tip on the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office website.
Resources for victims of sexual assault are available through the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673.
Safety tips for your children
Kristen McGarvey, a former elementary school teacher who’s now a digital safety expert based in Montgomery County, shared tips with NBC10 on keeping children safe from online predators.
“If you find out your child’s been communicating or gaming or sending pictures back and forth to strangers online, the very first thing you need to do is don’t blame your child. Right? Then you need to screenshot and save every communication and image that was done,” McGarvey said. “Because on a lot of these apps, they can be deleted from both ends quickly once it seems that a parent has figured it out.”
McGarvey also warned that predators often seek out children who are alone.
“These predators are looking for children who spend hours a day online unsupervised. At random hours in the middle of the night. Who stay up late. So set boundaries for your children,” McGarvey said. “Where they’re allowed to play their games or have their devices. How long they’re allowed to be on them, right? Who they’re allowed to speak with.”
McGarvey also recommended that parents delay devices as long as possible and then only allow their children to use them in common areas.
“Don’t allow devices in bedrooms or behind closed doors within your home. An isolated child is a target for a predator,” she said. “A child who has a parent walking through the background of their video or where you can hear a parent’s voice in the background, they’re no longer a target for a predator. Because now they know that they have an active or intentional parent behind them.”
