NEW CITY – Two men, one from Poughkeepsie and the other from Spring Valley, are among five arrested in a multiagency internet crimes against children operation led by the Troop F State Police.
The operation, conducted over several days in June, used undercover investigators and advanced cyber investigative techniques to identify individuals who used online platforms to communicate with what they believed were minors for the purpose of arranging in-person meetings to engage in illegal sexual activity.
Among those arrested were Ritchy Mercure, 24, of Spring Valley, and Bryan Wylong, 24, of Poughkeepsie.
Mercure was charged with attempted rape and attempted endangering the welfare of a child. He was remanded to the Rockland County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail, $100,000 bond, or $150,000 partially secured bond.
Wylong was charged with three counts of attempted rape, attempted disseminating indecent materials to a minor, and attempted endangering the welfare of a child.
He was remanded to the Orange County Jail in lieu of $7,500 cash bail, $15,000 bond, or $30,000 partially secured bond.
The other three men were from the New York City and New Jersey area.
Rockland County Sheriff Louis Falco III said the operation “reflects our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community.”
He said through coordinated efforts of local, county, state and federal law enforcement, they were ale to successfully identify and apprehend inividuals seeking to exploit children online.
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