Online group’s tip helped lead to LI prof’s arrest for trying to lure child, officials say

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FBI Arrests Long Island Professor for Luring Child Online, Tip from Anti-Predator Group Leads to Charges

A Suffolk County Community College adjunct history professor was taken into custody this week after allegedly attempting to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex. Philip Schuler, 53, was charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, a federal offense that carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.

According to court filings, Schuler thought he was conversing with the underage girl on Discord and arranged to meet her at Edward W. Cahill Memorial Park in Valley Stream on January 7. However, the girl was actually an undercover FBI agent who had been chatting with him since late October. Over several conversations, prosecutors alleged that Schuler masturbated on camera, sent explicit images, and discussed sexual acts with the underage girl.

The tip that led to Schuler's arrest came from The Decoy Project, a new nonprofit group that poses as minors online to identify potential predators and pass tips to law enforcement. Co-founder Jordan Spohn said his team of volunteers pose as underage girls in online forums to gather information and prevent online grooming. While their methods have drawn criticism from some who worry about the potential for viral content, Spohn maintained that they aim to prioritize evidence gathering over internet fame.

Schuler was arrested at the meeting spot after the undercover agent informed him she couldn't find condoms. Investigators later found spermicide and gifts intended for the girl in a motel room rented by Schuler earlier that morning. When questioned by agents, Schuler claimed he was "in love" with the girl and had only wanted to meet to see if she was real.

The Decoy Project has reportedly helped lead to two cases so far, including Schuler's arrest. The group is registered as a nonprofit in Florida and relies on donations to operate. Spohn said his team currently has 15-20 ongoing investigations.

Schuler has been placed on leave by the college and will not be teaching while the case is under investigation. His attorney declined comment on the matter.
 
OMG, this is just so messed up 🤯! I'm literally shaking with rage. A guy who's supposed to be a respected professor can't even keep himself from thinking about predatory stuff online. Like, how many times does someone have to get caught before they realize what's wrong? 🤷‍♂️

And The Decoy Project is the real MVP 👏. Those volunteers are literally risking their own safety and sanity just to help bring down predators like this guy. I mean, yes, some might say they're glorifying online predators or making a name for themselves, but honestly, who cares? They're saving lives, that's what matters 💖.

The fact that Schuler was caught because of an undercover agent is so satisfying 😂. He thought he was getting away with something, but nope! The authorities swooped in and took him down. And now, he's facing serious charges – 10 years minimum? That's like, a lifetime sentence 💔.

It's just so frustrating when people think they're above the law because of their profession or status. Newsflash: being powerful doesn't mean you're immune to consequences 🚫. Justice will be served, and I'm rooting for The Decoy Project every step of the way 👊.
 
🚨💔 this is just another heartbreaking reminder of the dangers lurking in the online world 🌐 we gotta keep those predators in check 🔒 can't believe how some ppl think they can get away with stuff like this 😷 The Decoy Project is a game changer btw 👏 those volunteers are literally saving lives 💕 need more organizations like that working together to keep our kids safe 🚫
 
🤦‍♂️ I was just thinking about this and it's crazy how some people can think that way... like, what's wrong with you? 😂 I mean, Philip Schuler thought he was talking to a 13-year-old girl on Discord but really she was an undercover agent the whole time. And then he masturbates on camera in front of her and sends explicit images... that's just gross. 🤢 It's like, you can't even get that right? 😂 Anyway, I guess The Decoy Project is doing some good by posing as minors online to catch people like Schuler. 👍 They might be a bit weird but they're helping to keep kids safe. 💕
 
😬 I think we're just scratching the surface of how messed up online communities can be... like, people still don't realize that there are actual humans on the other end of a chat, you know? 🤯 And The Decoy Project is doing some kinda crazy stuff here, but like, isn't it a bit too easy for them to just pose as underage girls and get predators to confess? I mean, what's stopping someone from faking their own identity or creating a fake profile? 🤔 And don't even get me started on the fact that Schuler thought he was talking to an actual 13-year-old girl... like, what were they thinking?! 😂 Anyway, I'm all for keeping the conversation going and trying to prevent online grooming, but let's keep our expectations in check, 'kay? 🤷‍♂️
 
😕 This is just another sickening reminder of how easily predators can get close to their victims online 🤯. I mean, it's crazy that this guy thought he was talking to a 13-year-old girl on Discord and actually went through with all these disgusting things...like sending explicit pics and masturbating on camera 🚫. And what really grinds my gears is that some people might think The Decoy Project is just trying to get attention, but Jordan Spohn's team is literally saving lives here 👮‍♀️. I'm glad they were able to help catch this guy and prevent him from hurting anyone else...10 years in prison is a good start 😒.
 
This is just so messed up 🤕. Like, I'm all for keeping our kids safe online, but this Decoy Project sounds like some wild stuff to me. It's trippy that they're posing as minors and pretending to be vulnerable just to catch out predators. But I guess if it works, right? 🤝 Anyway, 10 years in prison seems like a pretty sweet sentence for Schuler... he definitely got what was coming to him 😒. I mean, who tries to meet up with some random girl online thinking she's a teenager? Gross. And the fact that he thought he was being all sneaky and stuff just makes it even worse 🤦‍♂️.
 
I don’t usually comment but... this whole thing with Philip Schuler breaks my heart 🤕. I mean, who does that? A 53-year-old man thinking he can just manipulate a 13-year-old girl for his own twisted desires is just sickening 😷. The fact that he thought they were actually talking on Discord and not knowing it was an undercover agent... it's like, how much more clueless can you be? 🙄

And I'm all for the Decoy Project doing what they do to prevent online grooming, but it's still super disturbing to think about. These kids are already vulnerable enough, don't need some adult trying to take advantage of them online. And now Schuler's going to face 10 years in prison... yeah, that's probably not enough for someone who thinks their crimes are worth the risk 🤷‍♀️.

Anyway, just wanted to share my two cents on this whole thing. It's disgusting and I'm glad something got done about it 💪
 
🤯 I mean, come on... what's wrong with people anymore?! 53 years old, trying to groom a 13-year-old girl online? That's just sick! And what really gets me is that he thought he was talking to a real kid, not an undercover cop. Can you even imagine how many other kids are out there being targeted like this? 🚫💔 The Decoy Project is doing some good, but it's also super disturbing to think about all the people posing as minors online. It's just so... messed up. And now he gets 10 years in prison? That's not nearly enough time. He should be locked up for life! 😡
 
I cant even imagine what that little girl went through, poor thing 🤕🌟. I mean, who does something like this? Some pervert thinking he can just catfish a 13-year-old and try to take advantage of her... it's just horrific 😷. But I guess the fact that The Decoy Project was able to catch him is a huge win for law enforcement 🙌. I mean, those guys are literally saving lives online by doing their own little undercover ops 💻. We need more people like them, not less 🤞. It's crazy how much of a difference these organizations can make, and I'm all for supporting them financially if you can 😊. Let's keep raising awareness about online safety for our kids, and let's keep those predators behind bars 🔒!
 
🚨 This just gets so gross I mean, a professor, someone who's supposed to be educating and guiding young minds, thought he could just use his position to groom a 13-year-old girl online? 😱 And it was all just a ruse from The Decoy Project - those guys are like the real-life heroes of the internet. I'm so grateful for their work in keeping us safe online.

It's crazy how Schuler thought he was talking to an underage girl on Discord, and then when the undercover agent showed up at the meeting spot, he just freaked out saying he was "in love" with her 🙄 like, dude, get a grip. And those gifts and spermicide in his motel room? Red flag much?

The Decoy Project is doing some amazing work here, and I'm so glad to see them getting the recognition they deserve. They're not just fighting online predators, they're also raising awareness about this issue and creating change 🙌.
 
🙄 Can you believe this dude thought he was chatting with a 13-year-old girl on Discord? Like, I'm pretty sure even the most tech-savvy preteens can tell if someone's trying to be all "hey, I'm a cool professor" 🤣. Anyway, kudos to The Decoy Project for stepping up and doing their part to keep our kids safe online. It's like they say, "if you're gonna troll the internet, at least get an award for being the worst troll ever". 💔
 
I'm totally appalled by this guy's actions. I mean, who does that to a poor kid? It's just sickening. The fact that he thought he was chatting with a 13-yr-old girl but she was actually an undercover FBI agent is just crazy. And the things he did online... I don't even want to think about it. 🤯 He's lucky he didn't get caught sooner.

I love how this new nonprofit group, The Decoy Project, is stepping up and making a difference. They're like real-life superheroes, exposing predators and keeping kids safe. 💪 We need more people like them doing this kind of work.

This professor's case is just another example of why we need to be so vigilant online. It's not just about the tech companies or governments doing something - it's us as a community having to watch each other's backs and report suspicious behavior. Let's keep spreading awareness and keeping those predators at bay! 🚫
 
I don’t usually comment but it’s crazy how technology can both connect us and put us in harm's way 🤯... I mean, you gotta feel bad for the 13-year-old girl who got caught up in this whole situation. It’s like, one minute she’s just trying to have a conversation online and the next she’s potentially putting her life at risk. And what’s even more disturbing is that it takes someone like The Decoy Project, an anti-predator group, to start blowing the whistle on these people 🚨... I don’t think we can overstate how important their work is in keeping kids safe online. It’s just a shame that there are still predators out there who would take advantage of someone as young and vulnerable as that girl 💔... And what really gets me is that some people might say it's not right to use minors as decoys, but I think that's a necessary evil at this point 🤷‍♂️... We need to find ways to stop these predators from getting away with their crimes before someone else gets hurt 🚫.
 
OMG, this guy is seriously gross 🤢! I cant believe someone would try to take advantage of a 13-year-old girl like that. The Decoy Project sounds like an amazing resource for catching predators like Schuler - it's so sad they have to do it but at least we're safer now 💯

I mean, come on, who does this? 🤔 A college professor should know better! And the fact that he thought he was talking to a real girl and got all excited about meeting her... eww 🚫. I'm glad the FBI stepped in and put an end to it ASAP.

It's crazy that Schuler is already facing 10 years in prison, though - that's some serious time 💥. And poor college students who have to deal with this kind of stuff on campus... 😒

Kudos to The Decoy Project for doing their part in keeping us safe online! 🙌
 
This is soooo disturbing 🤯🚫, I mean, can you even imagine a grown man thinking he's talking to a 13-year-old girl online? 😱 It's like, get a grip, dude! Anyway, I'm all for organizations like The Decoy Project doing what they're doing - it's like, totally necessary 🙌. They're helping keep our kids safe and fighting against predators who prey on vulnerable kids 💪. Schuler should be lucky to have been caught, 10 years is a minimum sentence, that's some serious time ⏰. I'm glad the community college where he taught has placed him on leave, can't have someone like him around innocent students 🤢.
 
man this is so sad 😔 like what's wrong with people nowadays? back in my day we didn't even think about meeting a stranger online, we just talked to them on AOL chat rooms or something and if it seemed sketchy we just blocked them 🚫. now it's like the whole world is one big online playground for creepers 🤪. and that Decoy Project sounds like they're doing some good stuff, I mean using volunteers to pose as minors online to catch these predators is wild 💡. but at the same time it feels like we're just treating kids like products or something instead of respecting their boundaries 🙅‍♂️. anyway, 10 years in prison seems way too lenient if you ask me 😒.
 
this is so messed up 🤯 i mean, a professor trying to lure a 13-year-old girl for sex is just horrific. i cant believe he thought it was okay to do that online, thinking she was actually underage... its like, get a grip dude! 🙄 and what's with the gifts and spermicide in the motel room? really? this guy needs help, stat!

anyway, im glad The Decoy Project is doing their thing to catch these predators. it takes a lot of courage for them to pose as underage girls online, but its so important to expose people like schuler. his sentence better be 10 years minimum, considering what he did 🤕 and lets give a shoutout to Jordan Spohn and The Decoy Project - youre literally saving lives over here 💖
 
I don't think we should be glorifying these anti-predator groups that are essentially preying on people's baser instincts online... I mean, what's next? We're gonna create whole teams of undercover agents posing as minors to catch catfishers and pedophiles? It's just a slippery slope. And let's not forget, it's the job of law enforcement to handle these cases, not vigilante groups. These groups might be helping in some cases, but what about the innocent people who get caught up in the crossfire? And have you seen the way they operate - all secretive and cryptic... it's like something out of a movie. I just think we need to be careful here.
 
omg this guy Philip Schuler is like totally gross 😱, I mean who tries to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex online? 🤯 he's gonna rot in prison for like forever 🚔. The Decoy Project is literally heroes 👏, they're doing such important work to keep our kids safe online 💻. I'm glad there are ppl out there looking out for these young girls and exposing predators like Schuler 😊. And yeah, some ppl might say their methods are shady, but honestly who cares? They're getting results 📈 and keeping our kids protected ❤️.
 
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