In August 2016 an alert Stafford mother found an unknown number on her teenage daughter’s cell phone. The mother checked the phone and found inappropriate social media and text communications from a person who appeared to be an adult male. She then reported the incident to the Sheriff’s Office.

On August 29, 2016 Stafford Detectives received consent from the mother and the 15-year-old female to assume the daughter’s identity and continue to communicate with the adult male. Det. Darryl Wells accessed social media sites and quickly established contact with the suspect. During subsequent online chats, the male described specific sex acts he wanted to perform with the juvenile that Det. Wells was portraying. The suspect arranged to meet the juvenile in person at a specific time and location.

Members of the Stafford Sheriff’s Office were awaiting the suspect’s arrival and arrested him on September 8, 2016. Gregory Frank Lagiovane, age 51 of Dunes Street in Fredericksburg, was arrested on one count of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, four counts of Use of an Electronic Communications Device to Solicit a Minor. He was taken to the Rappahannock Regional Jail and was incarcerated with no bond.

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office conducts online investigations into persons who target children for exploitation. Detective Darryl Wells portrays juveniles in various social media and chat rooms to identify and locate individuals who are interested in such criminal activity.