From a press release
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer Wednesday announced that as a result of a joint undercover sting operation, six men ranging in age from 24 to 56 have been arrested and charged with multiple counts of child sex-related crimes arising from their attempts to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with minors.
The sting, led by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), included assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), as well as multiple municipal police departments. During the operation, which ran from December 8 to December 11, undercover agents assumed the identity of a minor on one of the websites or social media sites which are monitored by law enforcement for use by individuals who engage in the sexual exploitation of children.
“There can be no disagreement that the sexual exploitation of children is morally and legally wrong, yet in each of these cases, men — each of whom were repeatedly advised of the age of their intended sexual partner – engaged in online conversations of a sexually-explicit nature and arranged for a meet up to engage in sexual activity,” said Stollsteimer. “This is shameful conduct, and cannot be tolerated in a civilized society. This joint operation – which involved contributions from multiple law enforcement agencies – should send a signal to would-be predators that we have an army of dedicated members of law enforcement who work tirelessly to protect our children.”
The Accused:
Joseph Fahy
Joseph P. Fahy, 48, of Media is accused of traveling to Essington on December 8, 2022, to meet up with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old boy for sex. According to the complaint, Fahy and an undercover agent who was posing as the boy discussed sexual activity on a social media site prior to the planned meetup. Fahy was arrested on December 8 at the site of the proposed meetup. He has been arraigned on felony counts of attempted involuntary deviant sexual intercourse with a child (IDSI), unlawful contact with a minor, attempted corruption of minors, and criminal use of a communication facility. Bail was set at $250,000, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled before District Judge Jack D. Lippart on December 19, 2022.
Laurence D. Tom, 47, of Philadelphia, also faces charges in the sting. An undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old female responded to an online sex ad, which led to an exchange of emails between the defendant and the undercover agent. In the emails,
Stephen Maghanoy-Taghap
the undercover agent disclosed multiple times that s/he was 14 years old. The defendant acknowledged understanding the agent’s age, and made sexual requests from the agent including fellatio, cunnilingus, sexual intercourse, and anal sex. The defendant made arrangements with the undercover agent to meet on December 10, 2022, at a location in Tinicum Township. Tom was arrested at that time, and has been arraigned on felony counts of attempted IDSI, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, and criminal use of a communication facility. Bail was set at $250,000 (10 percent), and a preliminary hearing is scheduled before District Judge Jack D. Lippart on December 19, 2022.
Stephen L. Maghandy-Taghap, 37, of Philadelphia, was arrested in the sting. An undercover agent posted an ad on an internet escort service. The defendant responded to the ad and asked about the agent’s “rate.” The agent responded that s/he was a 14-year-old female. Knowing that the intended target was 14 years-old, the defendant agreed to pay $100 for sex. Taghap was taken into custody on December 8 at the meetup site in Tinicum Township. He has been arraigned on felony counts of attempted trafficking in minors, attempted statutory sexual assault of a minor, unlawful contact.
Tyler Wilder
with a minor, corruption of minors, and criminal use of a communication facility. Bail was set at $250,000 and a preliminary hearing is scheduled before District Judge Jack D. Lippart on December 19, 2022.
Tyler A. Wilder, 30, of Glenmoore, Pa. On December 10 a member of ICAC, acting in an undercover capacity as a 14-year-old boy, began communicating with the defendant over the social media platform KIK. Despite expressing concern that he might get “in trouble,” the defendant exchanged a serious of explicit sexual messages with the undercover agent, and agreed to meet for the purpose of engaging in oral sex. Wilder was taken into custody on December 10 at the site of the proposed meetup in Tinicum Township. He has been charged with felony counts of attempted IDSI, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, and criminal use of a communication facility. Bail was set at $250,000 (10 percent), and a preliminary hearing is scheduled before District Judge Jack D. Lippart on December 19, 2022.
Daniel J. Thurman-Miller, 24, of Colorado Springs, Colo. faces multiple charges. Acting as a 14-year-old female, an undercover agent posted an ad on an internet escort service. The defendant responded to the ad, and asked to meet for the purpose of oral sex. A meetup was arranged for December 9, in Tinicum Township, at which time the defendant was taken into custody. Miller has been charged with felony counts of attempted IDSI, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, and criminal use of a communication facility. Bail was set at $250,000 (10 percent), and a preliminary hearing is scheduled before District Judge Jack D. Lippart on December 19, 2022.
Daniel Thurman-Miller
Andrew Chang, 56, of Upper Darby, was also charged. Acting as a 14-year-old female, an undercover agent posted an ad on an internet escort service. The defendant answered the ad and began a sexual conversation with the agent. The agent told the defendant that s/he was 14. Despite expressing concern about the agent’s age, Chang requested sexually explicit pictures, as well as a meetup for the purpose of engaging in various sex acts. Chang was taken into custody on December 10 in Tinicum Township. He has been arraigned on felony counts of attempted trafficking in minors, attempted IDSI, attempted statutory sexual assault of a minor, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, and criminal use of a communication facility. Bail was set at $250,000 (10 percent), and a preliminary hearing is scheduled before District Judge Jack D. Lippart on December 19, 2022.
“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to NCIS Supervisory Special Agent George E. Ash and NCIS Special Agent Lisa Carroll for leading this effort to protect our nation’s children from online predators,” said Stollsteimer. “Numerous departments and agencies contributed to this operation, including the Ridley Police Department, the Lower Makefield Township Police Department, the Tinicum Township Police Department, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and we owe them all a debt of gratitude. I also want to specifically thank CID Detective Sergeant and PA ICAC Task Force Commander Ken Bellis, as well as Chief Simpkins of the Tinicum Township Police Department for their contributions to the arrests we announce today.”
The District Attorney and the Criminal Investigations Division ask anyone in Delaware County who observes suspicious activity call to 911 immediately and provide the most specific and accurate details possible to assist law enforcement agencies.
The District Attorney’s Office reminds readers that criminal charges are allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
