Pennsylvania Attorney General Corbett Announces the Arrest of Internet Predators in Pittsburgh, Altoona and Franklin County; 96 Arrests by Child Predator Unit

    HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Attorney General
 Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General's Child
 Predator Unit have arrested three men during the past week, including a
 benefits analyst from Pittsburgh, a college student from Altoona and a
 Franklin County man. All three men allegedly used Internet chat rooms and
 online message services to send sexually explicit photos or video to what
 they believed were young girls.
     Corbett identified the defendants as Joseph Forbes, 34, 453 Amherst
 Ave., Moon Township, Allegheny County; David Andrew Mascitelli, 23, 1509
 Van Buren Ave., Altoona; and Daniel Diaz, 32, 3300 Waynecastle Road,
 Greencastle.
     Corbett explained that Forbes, Mascitelli and Diaz all allegedly used
 Internet chat rooms to contact and sexually proposition what they believed
 were young girls. The girls were actually undercover agents from the
 Attorney General's Child Predator Unit, using the online profiles of
 children.
     "It is important for parents and children to understand that predators
 are actively using Internet chat rooms to seek out young victims -- often
 sending nude photos or videos during their initial chats," Corbett said.
 "The Attorney General's Child Predator Unit was specifically created to
 identify and capture these predators before they can harm kids, and we are
 dedicated to carrying out that mission -- to date, the unit has arrested 96
 predators from Pennsylvania and several other states."
     Joseph Forbes
     Corbett said that Forbes initially used an Internet chat room to
 contact an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit in November 2006.
 At that time, the agent was using the online profile of a 13-year old girl.
     According to the criminal complaint, Forbes immediately began
 questioning the girl about her clothing and shoes, and discussed dressing
 as a woman -- indicating that he had lost a bet to a friend.
     Corbett said that during their initial chat, Forbes asked for pictures
 of the girl and allegedly created a MySpace profile in order to view the
 agent's undercover profile and additional photos on MySpace.
     According to the criminal charges, Forbes continued to contact the
 undercover agent over the next several months -- offering to take her
 shopping for sexy lingerie and describing in graphic detail the sex acts he
 wished to perform. Forbes repeatedly commented that, "I love to please,"
 but also asked the girl if she liked the idea of being tied up and forced
 to perform sex acts.
     Corbett said that during the course of the chats, Forbes allegedly sent
 the girl four sexually explicit and nude photographs.
     Forbes was arrested at his Pittsburgh office on Friday, September 21st,
 by agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit and Pittsburgh
 Police. Agents executed a search of Forbes' office and home, assisted by
 Pittsburgh Police and Moon Township Police, seizing two computers, along
 with a digital camera, electronic storage devices, lingerie that appeared
 to match items Forbes was wearing in photos he sent to the child, and
 sexual paraphernalia. Those items will be analyzed by the Attorney
 General's Computer Forensics Unit as part of a continuing investigation.
     Forbes is charged with two counts of unlawful contact with a minor
 (related to disseminating sexually explicit materials), two counts of
 attempted obscene or sexual performances and two counts of criminal use of
 a computer, all third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to
 seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
     Forbes waived his preliminary hearing and is scheduled for formal
 arraignment on Dec. 21, 2007, in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. He
 was lodged in the Allegheny County Prison in lieu of $15,000 bail.
 Additionally, Forbes was ordered to have no unsupervised contact with
 minors, he cannot leave the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania without court
 approval and he is prohibited from using the Internet.
     Forbes will be prosecuted in Allegheny County by Deputy Attorney
 General William F. Caye II.
     Corbett thanked the Pittsburgh Police Department and Moon Township
 Police Department for their cooperation and assistance with this
 investigation.
     David Andrew Mascitelli
     Corbett said that Mascitelli used an Internet chat room to contact an
 undercover agent in May 2007, initially claiming to be a 16-year old boy.
 At the time, the agent was using the online profile of a 13-year old girl.
     According to the criminal complaint, Mascitelli almost immediately
 began a sexually explicit conversation with the girl, and expressed his
 desire to meet her for sex, commenting, "I want to get naked with you."
     Corbett said that Mascitelli repeatedly proposed meeting the girl for
 sex, at one point allegedly suggesting that she move to Altoona and live
 with him, posing as his sister.
     According to the criminal charges, Mascitelli used an Internet instant
 message program to send the girl a digital photo of an exposed penis,
 asking her, "think you can handle this?"
     Mascitelli is charged with one count of unlawful contact with a minor
 and one count of criminal use of a computer, both third-degree felonies
 which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $15,000
 fine.
     Mascitelli was arrested on Thursday, September 27th, in Altoona,
 shortly after he left his home for class at a nearby college. Agents from
 the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit, assisted by Altoona Police,
 executed a search of his home, seizing seven computers along with numerous
 digital storage devices. Those items will be analyzed by the Attorney
 General's Computer Forensics Unit as part of a continuing investigation.
     Mascitelli was preliminarily arraigned on September 27th, before
 Altoona Magisterial District Judge Jeffrey P. Auker and lodged in the Blair
 County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail. He was also ordered to have no
 unsupervised contact with minors and prohibited from using the Internet. A
 preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 3rd, at 9:00 a.m.
     Mascitelli will be prosecuted in Blair County by Deputy Attorney
 General Michael A. Sprow, of the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit.
     Corbett thanked the Altoona Police Department for their cooperation and
 assistance with this investigation.
     Daniel Diaz
     Corbett said that Diaz initially made contact with an undercover agent
 on August 1st, using an online chat room for teens. At that time, the agent
 was posing as a 13-year old girl.
     According to the criminal charges, Diaz quickly asked the girl to
 engage in a private online conversation and suggested sending her nude
 webcam images.
     Corbett said that later the same day, Diaz allegedly used an instant
 message service to once again contact the girl, expressing his desire to
 meet her for sex and telling her, "I wanna lick your body all over." Diaz
 also allegedly sent the girl a webcam video of himself engaging in sexual
 activity.
     Diaz is charged with one count of unlawful contact with a minor and one
 count of criminal use of a computer, both third-degree felonies which are
 each punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
     Diaz was arrested at his Greencastle home on Friday, September 28th, by
 agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit, assisted by
 Pennsylvania State Police, and is scheduled to be preliminarily arraigned
 before Greencastle Magisterial District Judge Duane Cunningham.
     Diaz will be prosecuted in Franklin County by Deputy Attorney General
 Michael A. Sprow, of the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit.
     Corbett thanked the Pennsylvania State Police, Chambersburg, for their
 cooperation and assistance with this investigation.
     Child Predator Unit
     Corbett explained that the Child Predator Unit was created to identify
 and arrest Internet predators, as well as educating parents and children
 about the dangers of the Internet. Since January 2005, the unit has
 arrested 96 Internet predators.
     "The Internet is a wonderful tool for information and communication,
 but it has also become a popular stalking ground for predators searching
 for young victims -- either sexually propositioning children or sending
 explicit photos or videos," Corbett said. "It is essential that parents
 talk to their children about online hazards, and report any predator who
 sexually solicits children or who sends them sexually graphic material."
     Internet predators can be reported to the Child Predator Unit by
 calling 1-800-385-1044, or online at the Attorney General's website --
 http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.
     Corbett also encouraged parents, teachers and other concerned adults to
 review information about Internet safety in the "Operation Safe Surf"
 section of the Attorney General's website.
     Additional internet safety information, created for children, is
 included in the "Just 4 Kids" sections of the website.
     (A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven
 guilty.)
     Editors Note: Photos of the defendants and copies of the criminal
 complaints are available by contacting the Attorney General's Press Office
 at 717-787-5211.
     CONTACT:  Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
               Deputy Press Secretary
               717-787-5211
               nhf@attorneygeneral.gov
 
 

SOURCE Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office