Irvine police: Man posed as woman on Craigslist to lure teen boys

Oct. 18, 2014 1:43 PM PT

A 34-year-old man posed as a woman online to lure teenage boys — including one from Irvine — into sexual situations, according to authorities.

Irvine police arrested Tustin resident Sherwin Ngo at his workplace in Irvine on Friday on suspicion of lewd acts on a child.

Ngo allegedly used a Craigslist ad to contact at least two teenagers. In the ad, he said he was a woman offering sexual contact, police said.

Officials were alerted to the scheme when the mother of a 15-year-old Irvine teenager found explicit emails on the boy’s tablet.

Police say they have identified at least one other victim, a 16-year-old boy from Mission Viejo.

Detectives are continuing to investigate and believe there may be more victims, Irvine police said in a news release.

Officials say they booked Ngo in Orange County Jail on Friday.

He posted bail and was released early Saturday morning, according to online jail records.

Police ask that anyone with more information contact Irvine police at (949) 724-7200.

— Jeremiah Dobruck