‘Predator-catcher’ group helps catch man accused of child solicitation, exploitation | #childpredator | #kidsaftey | #childsaftey

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) – A predator-catching group kicked off an investigation into a 22-year-old Fort Wayne man accused of child solicitation and exploitation, according to newly filed court records.

Phoenix Tsuleff is charged with felony child solicitation and exploitation, as well as misdemeanor sexual grooming. He is currently being held at the Allen County Jail.

In July, a man who “engages in self-directed activities in which he creates and operates fictitious online accounts presenting as minor children, for the stated purpose of identifying adults who solicit children for sexual activity, and that he publicizes the results of that activity on social media,” contacted police, according to court records obtained by 21Investigates.

The man said he created an account pretending to be a 13-year-old girl named “Gabby,” and he and a team sent messages from the account. Police described the man as “the complainant, victim and primary witness” in the case, court documents say.

Police made it clear in court records that the man was not working with the Fort Wayne Police Department or any other police agency, nor was he a paid or registered informant with the department.

The full probable cause affidavit can be viewed below: