PENNSAUKEN, NJ — A man has been arrested and charged for attempting to meet with an underage girl to engage in sexual conduct after chatting online, reported Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay.
Gustavo Sosa, 31, of Pennsauken, is charged with second-degree attempting to lure a child, second-degree attempted sexual assault, second-degree attempted prostitution with a minor, and third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child.
Additionally, he was charged with two counts of engaging in prostitution, disorderly persons offenses.
On Feb. 3, Sosa began communicating online with a person who he believed was a 14-year-old girl.
The person chatting with him was actually an undercover detective from the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crimes Unit.
During the conversation, Sosa arranged a meeting at a park in Pennsauken for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with the girl in exchange for money.
On Feb. 4, Sosa was taken into custody at the meeting location by members of the Cherry Hill Police Department Tactical Response Team and Camden County Prosecutor’s Office.
He was remanded to the Camden County Correctional Facility.
Following the arrest, detectives became aware of social media posts by members of the public mistaking this arrest as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation.
No ICE agents were involved in this arrest.
The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office and local law enforcement partners adhere to the practices established under the Immigrant Trust Directive issued by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Sergeant John Cochran of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crimes Unit at (856) 225-8826.
