El fiscal del condado de Ocean, Bradley D.. Billhimer anunció que en febrero 14, 2022, Richard Hoffman, 26, de Mays Landing, se declaró culpable ante el Honorable Guy P. ryan, J.S.C., to Luring in violation of NJSA. 2C:13-6, in connection with a series of events that that occurred in Toms River between September 4, 2018 and September 5, 2018. At the time of Hoffman’s sentencing on April 29, 2022, the State will be seeking a term of five years New Jersey State Prison. Hoffman will also be required to register as a Megan’s Law Offender and will be subject to Parole Supervision for Life.
Hoffman was arrested on September 5, 2018, as part of Operation Open House – a multi-agency undercover operation led by the New Jersey Department of Criminal Justice, New Jersey Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. This operation targeted men who were using the social media applications, Whisper and Kik, to attempt to lure underage females and males for sexual activity. Hoffman, who believed he was chatting with a fourteen year-old female, arranged to meet the female at a residence in Toms River for purposes of engaging in sexual activity. In reality, Hoffman was chatting with an undercover detective from the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office. En septiembre 5, 2018, Hoffman arrived at the prearranged location in Toms River, and was taken into custody. Fue transportado a la cárcel del condado de Ocean., y luego liberado como consecuencia de la reforma de la fianza de Nueva Jersey.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Kristin Pressman who handled the case on behalf of the State, as well as the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, New Jersey Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Policía Estatal de Nueva Jersey, Unidad de Delitos de Alta Tecnología de la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean, Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Burlington, Fiscalía del condado de Camden, Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Mercer, Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, Fiscalía del condado de Monmouth, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, Investigaciones de seguridad nacional de Estados Unidos, United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations, New Jersey State Parole Board, Bayonne Police Department, Gloucester Township Police Department, Departamento de policía del municipio de Hazlet, Keyport Police Department, Monroe Township Police Department, Red Bank Police Department, Spring Lake Police Department, Departamento de policía del municipio de Toms River, and Voorhees Township Police Department, for their collective and collaborative assistance in connection with the Operation Open House investigation, leading to Hoffman’s apprehension, Declaración de culpabilidad, y pronto su sentencia de prisión estatal.