Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on July 8, Richard Hoffman, 27, of Mays Landing, was sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to Luring in connection with a series of events that occurred in Toms River between September 4, 2018, and September 5, 2018.
Hoffman was also ordered to register as a Megan’s Law Offender and that he be subject to Parole Supervision for Life.
According to Prosecutor Billhimer, Hoffman was arrested on September 5, 2018, as part of Operation Open House - a multi-agency undercover operation led by the New Jersey Department of Criminal Justice, New Jersey Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
This operation targeted men who were using the social media applications, Whisper and Kik to attempt to lure underage females and males for explicit activity.
Prosecutor Billhimer stated that Hoffman, who believed he was chatting with a fourteen-year-old female, arranged to meet the female at a residence in Toms River for purposes of engaging in explicit activity.
In reality, Hoffman was chatting with an undercover detective from the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office.
According to Prosecutor Billhimer, on September 5, 2018, Hoffman arrived at the prearranged location in Toms River and was taken into custody.
He was transported to the Ocean County Jail and later released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.