Five Arrested in Rockland County Child Exploitation Operation
State, local and federal investigators used undercover online operations to identify suspects accused of seeking illegal contact with minors.
A Rockland County ICAC operation led to the arrests of five men accused of using online platforms to communicate with people they believed were children and arrange meetings for illegal sexual activity, according to the New York State Police.
The proactive investigation was conducted over several days in June 2026. Undercover investigators reportedly posed as minors while using cyber-investigative techniques to identify people suspected of attempting to exploit children online.
The five defendants face combinations of felony and misdemeanor charges. All charges are accusations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Five Suspects Arrested During June Operation
The New York State Police coordinated the investigation with several local, county, state and federal agencies.
Participating agencies included:
- The Rockland County Sheriff’s Office
- The Town of Ramapo Police Department
- The Rockland County Intelligence Center
- The FBI Rye Safe Streets Task Force
- The New York State Intelligence Center
Investigators said they are continuing to examine digital devices and other evidence to determine whether additional victims or possible criminal offenses exist.
Oleksandr Vershok
Oleksandr Vershok, 36, of Brooklyn, was charged with:
- Attempted second-degree rape, a Class E felony
- Attempted endangering the welfare of a child, a Class B misdemeanor
Vershok was arraigned June 12 in Ramapo Town Court. He was remanded to the Rockland County Jail in place of $50,000 cash bail, a $100,000 bond or a $150,000 partially secured bond.
Anthony J. Kamycki
Anthony J. Kamycki, 36, of Ronkonkoma, was charged with:
- Attempted second-degree rape, a Class E felony
- Attempted first-degree dissemination of indecent material to a minor, a Class E felony
- Attempted endangering the welfare of a child, a Class B misdemeanor
Kamycki was arraigned June 12 and remanded to the Rockland County Jail under the same bail conditions listed for Vershok.
Ritchy D. Mercure
Ritchy D. Mercure, 24, of Spring Valley, was charged with:
- Attempted second-degree rape, a Class E felony
- Attempted endangering the welfare of a child, a Class B misdemeanor
Mercure was arraigned June 13 in Ramapo Town Court and remanded to the Rockland County Jail in place of $50,000 cash bail, a $100,000 bond or a $150,000 partially secured bond.
Alex Garrett
Alex Garrett, 26, of Secaucus, New Jersey, was charged with:
- Two counts of attempted second-degree rape, both Class E felonies
- Attempted first-degree unlawful dealing with a child, a Class B misdemeanor
- Attempted endangering the welfare of a child, a Class B misdemeanor
Garrett was arraigned June 13 and remanded to the Rockland County Jail under the same bail conditions imposed on several of the other defendants.
Bryan J. Wylong
Bryan J. Wylong, 24, of Poughkeepsie, was charged with:
- Three counts of attempted second-degree rape, all Class E felonies
- Attempted first-degree dissemination of indecent material to a minor, a Class E felony
- Attempted endangering the welfare of a child, a Class B misdemeanor
Wylong was arraigned June 23 at the Orange County centralized arraignment court. He was remanded to the Orange County Jail in place of $7,500 cash bail, a $15,000 bond or a $30,000 partially secured bond.
Police Credit Multiagency Cooperation
New York State Police officials said the operation was designed to identify possible offenders before an actual child could be harmed.
“The individuals arrested in this operation believed they were communicating with children and intended to exploit them,” Troop F Bureau of Criminal Investigation Capt. Brad Natalizio said in the State Police release.
Natalizio credited cooperation among local, county, state and federal investigators.
“Protecting children remains one of our highest priorities,” he said.
Rockland County Sheriff Louis Falco III said the operation reflected a shared commitment to protecting vulnerable members of the community.
Town of Ramapo Police Chief Dan Hyman also emphasized that crimes against children would not be tolerated and described the investigation as an example of strong interagency cooperation.
What Is an ICAC Operation?
An Internet Crimes Against Children, or ICAC, operation is a coordinated law-enforcement investigation focused on crimes in which people allegedly use the internet, messaging services or other technology to target children.
The New York State ICAC Task Force includes approximately 60 federal, state and local law-enforcement agencies. Those agencies work together to identify, investigate and prosecute people suspected of exploiting children through online technology.
The State Police Computer Crime Unit also supports investigations involving digital evidence. Its work includes computer forensics, field investigations, child-exploitation cases and internet-safety education.
What Is Online Enticement?
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children defines online enticement as communication with someone believed to be a child through the internet with the intent to commit a sexual offense or abduction.
It may involve:
- Grooming a child for sexual conversations
- Pressuring a child to create explicit images
- Sextortion or threats involving images
- Attempting to arrange an in-person meeting
- Buying, selling or trading sexual images of children
Not every suspicious conversation leads to an arrest, and every criminal case must be proven with admissible evidence in court. However, authorities use undercover operations to intervene when investigators believe a person is taking concrete steps toward committing a crime.
Reports Show the Scale of Online Exploitation
The threat is not limited to one county or state.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported that its CyberTipline received approximately 21.3 million reports in 2025. Those reports included more than 61.8 million images, videos and other files connected to suspected child sexual exploitation.
The CyberTipline also received more than 170,000 reports directly from members of the public during 2025. More than 5,700 reports came directly from victims, an increase of more than 100% from 2024, according to NCMEC.
Those figures do not mean every report represents a separate offender or a confirmed crime. Reports may contain duplicate material, multiple files or information that requires further investigation.
Still, the volume shows why police agencies, schools, families and technology companies face growing pressure to identify warning signs early.
Parents and Caregivers Can Reduce Online Risks
Law-enforcement operations are one part of the response. Prevention also begins at home, in schools and within youth organizations.
Parents and caregivers can take several practical steps:
- Keep conversations open. Children should know they can report uncomfortable online contact without immediately losing access to their devices.
- Discuss fake identities. A person online may not be the age, gender or identity presented in a profile.
- Review privacy settings. Limit who can contact a child, view posts or access location information.
- Watch for secrecy or sudden fear. Changes in behavior may indicate harassment, threats or coercion.
- Preserve evidence. Save usernames, messages, photographs and screenshots rather than confronting a suspected offender directly.
- Report immediate danger. Contact local police or call 911 when a child may face an urgent threat.
The Justice Department also recommends prevention education and directs families toward the CyberTipline and other child-safety resources.
Investigation Remains Active
State Police said investigators are continuing to review digital evidence and information gathered during the Rockland County ICAC operation.
Anyone who believes they may have been victimized or who has information concerning one of the defendants is asked to contact New York State Police Troop F headquarters at 845-344-5300.
The arrests represent a significant law-enforcement action, but they are not convictions. The cases must now proceed through the judicial system, where prosecutors will be required to prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
For families, the investigation also serves as a reminder that online safety depends on more than blocking websites or checking devices. Children need trusted adults who will listen calmly, take concerns seriously and act quickly when something feels wrong.
Sources
- New York State Police: “Five Arrested During Multiagency Internet Crimes Against Children Operation in Rockland County,” July 9, 2026.
- New York State Police: Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force overview.
- New York State Police: Computer Crime Unit overview.
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: CyberTipline Data and 2025 reporting statistics.
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: Online Enticement overview.
- U.S. Department of Justice: Online child-exploitation prevention resources.
