A Child Sex Sting Snares a Georgia Man in Monmouth County

A Georgia man, living in Long Island N.Y., faces a host of charges after traveling to Monmouth County to allegedly have sex with two minors.

23-year-old Richard Simone of Aceworth, Ga. was arrested on September 13th in West Long Branch to meet with a man who was supposed to be the Father of a 9-year-old girl that he was arranging to have a tryst with, along with her minor baby sitter.

Instead, Simone was engaging in explicit online conversations for three months in July, August and September with an undercover special agent of Homeland Security Investigations. During one of the online conversations in August, Simone allegedly sent nine images of child pornography to the special agent.

Simone is charged with traveling with the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor which carries a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum of five years, a maximum penalty of 20 years and a $250,000 fine.

New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman credits agents of Homeland Security Investigations and the West Long Branch Police Department for the investigation leading to Monday's charges. Fishman says the case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov