BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — In October, 7 Eyewitness News brought you the story of Nick Simmons, a Buffalo man on a mission to catch alleged child sex predators and expose them on YouTube.
Simmons' work, through our coverage, was brought to the attention of Erie County District Attorney John Flynn. Flynn tells 7 Eyewitness News reporter Hannah Buehler he started investigating the alleged child sex predators captured on cell phone video by Simmons. One of those investigations led to an arrest Friday.
Erick Guigui, 50 of Amherst, was arrested and charged with:
-One count of Attempted Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance, a Class “D” felony
-One count Attempted Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors in the First Degree, a Class “E” felony
-One count of Attempted Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, a Class “A” misdemeanor
-One count of Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class “B” misdemeanor
Prosecutors say on November 29, Guigui thought he was meeting a teenage boy for sexual acts, but instead was met by Simmons, with his camera rolling.
"This pitbull has met up with numerous individuals who think they're meeting up with young boys," said Flynn.
Simmons is behind the group Pitbulls vs. Predators. In an October interview, he told 7 Eyewitness News he uses a decoy profile on a dating app and pretends to be an underage child. Simmons says he then waits for a person to contact his decoy and then tells them he's underage.
“One of the first things I say is, ‘Just to let you know I lied about my age. I’m really 15,” he said in an October interview with 7 Eyewitness News.
In numerous cases, and in the case of Guigui according to prosecutors, the conversation doesn't stop there.
Guigui's defense attorney says his client has done nothing wrong.
"All I know at this time is that there are unsubstantiated allegations by a non-law-enforcement-officer against a man with a family, no criminal history and no evidence of any crime whatsoever from my client's phone, or computers,” attorney Steven Cohen said. My client has appropriately been released on his owwn recognizance."
Guigui is due back in Buffalo City Court on January 16.
