New Jersey authorities say a police officer and a firefighter were among 24 men who tried to lure teenagers for sexual activity.

Attorney General Gurbir Grewal says the men charged in the statewide sting used social media and chat apps to communicate with people they thought were teenage boys and girls. But they were actually talking with undercover officers.

Those charged in "Operation Open House" were arrested this month at a Toms River home where they expected to meet the children, who they thought were home alone. Among them was a police officer who claimed he was a 19-year-old boy and believed he was chatting with a 15-year-old girl.

Howell Township police sergeant Richard Conte, 47, is among those facing charges.

All 24 defendants were charged with luring. Many also face additional charges, including attempted sexual assault on a child.

  • Mina Beshay, 27, of Monroe Township, a security guard
  • Christopher Vargas, 29, of Toms River, a registered nurse
  • Joshua Rauter, 31, of Little Egg Harbor Township, a municipal public works employee
  • Joseph Martin, 35, of Seaside Heights, unemployed
  • Richard Hoffman, 23, of Mays Landing, a firefighter and a college student
  • Volvi Lowinger, 23, of Lakewood, a college student
  • Thomas Graciano, 28, of Brick, a physical therapist in a retirement community
  • Thomas Blumensteel, 47, of Manchester, a hotel manager and a registered sex offender
  • Thomas Fuller, 44, Toms River, an assistant manager/sterilization technician
  • Zachary Vincent, 24, of Forked River, a landscaper
  • William Singleton, 24, of Pemberton Township, a restaurant worker
  • Jonathan Vece, 22, of Turnersville, a canvasser
  • Lawrence Ivancic, 51, of Toms River, unemployed
  • Robert Lisicki, 51, of Metuchen, a train conductor
  • Dylan Daffron, 28, of Lacey Township, a cashier at a retail store
  • Steven Portnoy, 27, of Egg Harbor Township, unemployed
  • David Studnicky, 64, of Toms River, a dry cleaner
  • Anthony Perfidio, 24, of Barnegat, a data entry clerk
  • Brian Degnan, 33, of Toms River, a data entry clerk
  • Nabindranauth Nandalall, 24, of the Bronx, unemployed
  • William Davis, 23, Bayville, a consultant
  • Charles Schlottfeld, 26, of Bayville, a mechanic
  • Douglass Walton, 54, of Hillsborough, in produce

Contributing: WABC