Creepy NJ man brought candy to meet young girls for sex, officials say

🚨 Officials say man tried meeting children under 11 years old

🚨 He sent his ID to an undercover cop

🚨 Creepy items found in his car, authorities say

LACEY — An Ocean County man is accused of trying to meet young girls for sex at a hotel this past weekend.

Daniel J. Dagostino of Lanoka Harbor, is charged with first and second-degree human trafficking, two second-degree counts of trying to have sex with a child under 13 years old, second-degree luring, and two third-degree counts of trying to debauch the morals of a child.

Attorney General Matthew Platkin said the 39-year-old Dagostino was arrested at a hotel on Saturday.

“He allegedly believed he was arranging to have sex with children ages 8 and 10. This kind of predatory online behavior will not be tolerated," Platkin said.

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The investigation started on Feb. 7, officials said.

That was when an undercover cop, who was pretending to be a man with access to a 6-year-old girl, was contacted online by Dagostino, officials said.

The undercover officer told Dagostino he also had access to two other girls, ages 8 and 10, officials said.

Dagostino asked for photos of the girls and began a "sexual conversation" about them, officials said.

Dagostino also sent photos of himself and his New Jersey driver's license to the undercover officer, officials said.

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Investigators said they made a disturbing arrangement: Dagostino would meet the girls at a hotel and have sex with them while the online contact watched.

On Feb. 22, Dagostino was arrested at the hotel where they had arranged to meet, officials said.

A search of his vehicle turned up a condom box, a note, and candy, officials said.

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