Police in New Jersey claim they have arrested a dozen child predators as part of a multi-agency undercover operation designed to catch people who were allegedly trying to lure children using social media and different online messaging applications. Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said that "Operation Bad Santa" was a success, nabbing the suspects - including a middle school teacher - over several days between December 8 and December 15. Undercover police posed as children during online conversations on social media and messaging apps and eventually led the men to a locale where police were waiting with handcuffs. "The defendants were arrested when they arrived at an undercover residence, where they expected to find the child," a press release on the operation explained. "Instead, they were met with several law enforcement officers prepared to arrest them. Two of the defendants engaged in online child exploitation and were arrested upon their identification." East Brunswick Police Chief Frank LoSacco said the "operation's success reflects the power of cooperation among multiple agencies and stands as both a beacon of hope for our community and a stark warning to those who attempt to victimize our most vulnerable population; we will relentlessly pursue justice." The operation also "demonstrates our shared commitment to protecting children and holding offenders accountable," said Stefanie Roddy, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Newark. "Working alongside the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, the East Brunswick Police Department, and our law enforcement partners, we will continue to identify, locate, and arrest individuals who seek to sexually exploit minors. Anyone who believes they can target children in our communities without consequence should understand that law enforcement is united, vigilant, and will respond with unified and aggressive enforcement." Those arrested as part of "Operation Bad Santa" were Delpis Reynoso-Castro, 26; Marcos Aguila, 57; Jose Leguia, 57; Hareshkumar "Harry" Vala, 44; Vedant Khandelwal, 38; Kevin Knox, 65; Cameron Ameye, 33; Jorge Mora, 52; Joseph Davicsin, 46; Akash Shah, 23; Raul Angeles, 53; and James Keating, 59. All were charged with luring and endangering sexual conduct with a child. Some were also charged with child porn distribution. Ameye, Us Weekly learned, was working as a program coordinator for Youth Rise, an academic readiness and career pathways program out of Passaic County Community College. Davicsin, police said, worked as a middle school teacher in Elizabeth. Davicsin's attorney, Michael Chazen, told the New York Post his client maintains his innocence and urged the public not to rush to judgment. Us Weekly contacted lawyers for the 12 men but they had not responded to requests for comment. It was also unclear if any of the men had been asked to enter pleas to the charges they gave, The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at (732) 745-3300. If you know of a young person who is being exploited or is the victim of a crime, you are urged to report it to your local FBI field office by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tips can also be left at tips.fbi.gov.