A Yonkers Firefighter who was arrested in Atlantic City, NJ on Aug. 1, and charged with luring/enticing a child by various means, was immediately fired by Mayor Mike Spano. Joseph Donofrio, 31, was part of a 17 people arrested in an Atlantic City, NJ sting operation led by two YouTubers.
Predator Catchers PA, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmUTnV4KGVI5yPqTNS51XgQ and
MrWeb https://www.youtube.com/c/WEBWatchEveryBrowser posed as underage children on social media sites and agreed to meet the pervs at a location near the Atlantic City boardwalk. The suspects would then be confronted and the AC Police would come in for the arrest.
Donofrio was being held in the Atlantic County Justice Facility, and faces 5-10 years in jail if convicted.
Here is the release from the Atlantic City PD. “Since July 16, 2022, the Atlantic City Police Department has arrested 17 men for attempting to lure a minor with assistance from concerned citizens groups. The concerned citizens were engaged in posing as underage children on various social media sites. They would then confront the individual and notify police. The citizens group provided the responding officers with screen shots of conversations and detailed information that was shared between the citizens group and the suspects.
Following an investigation by detectives of the Criminal Investigations Section, each individual was arrested and criminally charged.
ARRESTED: Steven Wentzel, 51, of Williston, NY.
CHARGES: Luring/enticing a child by various means.
ARRESTED: Andrew Rheinheimer, 41, of Absecon, NJ.
CHARGES: Luring/enticing a child by various means.
ARRESTED: Delbin Martinez, 28, of Atlantic City.
CHARGES: Luring/enticing a child by various means.
ARRESTED: Bruce Cahan, 77, of Atlantic City.
CHARGES: Luring/enticing a child by various means.
ARRESTED: Sidney Yee, 67, of Atlantic City.
CHARGES: Luring/enticing a child by various means.
ARRESTED: Alex Damian, 37, of Stamford CT.
CHARGES: Luring/enticing a child by various means.
ARRESTED: Christopher Sharpe, 23, of Sweet Water, AL.
CHARGES: Luring/enticing a child by various means.
ARRESTED: Henrri Pacheco-Medina, 24, of Atlantic City.
CHARGES: Luring/enticing a child by various means.
ARRESTED: Juwin Jumpp, 26, of Vestal NY.
CHARGES: Luring/enticing a child by various means.
ARRESTED: Jonathan Shillingford Coll, 28, of Avondale, PA.
CHARGES: Luring/enticing a child by various means.
ARRESTED: Diego Delossantos, 27, of Atlantic City.
CHARGES: Luring/enticing a child by various means.
ARRESTED: Joseph Donofrio, 31, of Yonkers, NY.
CHARGES: Luring/enticing a child by various means.
ARRESTED: Nareshan Reddy, 34, of Vero Beach, FL.
CHARGES: Luring/enticing a child by various means.
ARRESTED: Gerald Colapinto, 65, of Yardley, PA.
CHARGES: Luring/enticing a child by various means.
ARRESTED: Johnny Puma, 54, of Lexington, SC.
CHARGES: Luring/enticing a child by various means.
ARRESTED: Colby Jones, 26, of Galloway, NJ.
CHARGES: Luring/enticing a child by various means.
ARRESTED: Avraham Holtzberg, 48, of Brooklyn, NY.
CHARGES: Luring/enticing a child by various means.
All of the arrested individuals were remanded to the Atlantic County Justice Facility with the exception of Yee, who was issued a summons pending a future court date. The public is reminded that charges are mere allegations and the accused are considered innocent until proven guilty.
Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Atlantic City Police Department Criminal Investigations Section at 609-347-5766. Information can be text to tip411 (847411). Begin the text with ACPD. All texts are anonymous.” end of ACPD release.
In a statement, Yonkers Mayor Michael Spano called the charges appalling and nothing short of predatory, and fired Donofrio.
Great work by the two YouTubers and by the ACPD for working with these citizen volunteers who are looking to protect underage children.
