A 27-year-old Jackson Heights man who thought he was texting a 13-year-old girl for sex was caught by undercover detectives for trying to solicit sex from minors on Craigslist, prosecutors said.
Oscar J. Zagalo allegedly sent sexually explicit texts to the officer last month during an investigation into Craiglist personal ads, according to Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown. On June 24, the investigator stumbled upon an ad titled “Virgin? Would you like to lose it (M4W)” and “Hello HS and Virgin Girls.”
“Servicing any inexperienced girl willing to loose (sic) it, any age,” the ad read. “You can have me climb through your window at night or I can host. I’m very experienced and skilled. Girl party friendly too. Great for your slumber party with your girlfriends. Please send pictures with your reply. Ciao!”
Prosecutors said Zagalo also allegedly included a picture of an exposed penis in the ad. The investigator reached out to Zagalo and posed as a 13-year-old girl from Queens. The conversation lasted for several days with Zagalo sending sexually explicit messages even though the officer repeatedly said he was underage.
On June 30, law enforcement sources said, Zagalo showed up at a pre-arranged location to meet with the 13-year-old girl and was arrested. As he was being taken into custody he thanked investigators for arresting him.
“You saved me,” he allegedly told cops. “I was going to do something bad.”
Zagalo was charged with one count of second-degree attempted rape, second-degree attempted criminal sexual act, first-degree attempted dissemination of indecent material to minors and attempted endangering the welfare of a child.
Brown said Zagalo faces up to four years in prison if convicted and was ordered held on $50,000 bail. Zagalo was ordered to return to court on July 6.
