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Online group’s tip helped lead to LI prof’s arrest for trying to lure child, officials say
By
Charles Lane
Published Jan 14, 2026
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By
Charles Lane
Published Jan 14, 2026
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An online group whose members pose as minors helped the FBI arrest a Long Island community college professor who allegedly tried to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex.
Philip Schuler, 53, an adjunct history professor at Suffolk County Community College, was ordered held without bail this week. He was charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, a federal offense carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison.
Prosecutors said Schuler thought he was speaking to a 13-year-old girl named “Chloe” on Discord and arranged to meet her at Edward W. Cahill Memorial Park in Valley Stream on Jan. 7. In reality, “Chloe” was an undercover FBI agent who had been chatting with him almost daily since late October, according to court filings.
Officials said the tip came from the Decoy Project, a new online predator-hunting nonprofit that passes leads to law enforcement.
During those conversations, prosecutors said Schuler masturbated on camera, sent an explicit photo and discussed “taking her virginity."
On Jan. 6, when the agent told him she couldn’t find condoms, Schuler allegedly replied, “I’ve got that covered.” He was arrested the next day at the meeting spot.
Investigators said Schuler had that morning rented a nearby motel room, where they later found spermicide and gifts he intended to give the girl.
After his arrest, Schuler reportedly told agents he was “in love” with her and had only wanted to meet to see “if she was real,” according to prosecutors.
His attorney, Felipe Garcia, did not respond to messages seeking comment.
Schuler is also under investigation for alleged possession of child sexual abuse material after Microsoft flagged an upload from an email address linked to him in November 2025. He allegedly told the undercover agent he had previously had sex with another minor about 12 times, according to court documents.
Suffolk County Community College said Schuler was immediately placed on leave and will not be teaching while the case is under investigation.
The Decoy Project was founded last year and is part of a growing wave of online predator-hunting operations. Unlike some groups that confront suspects for viral content, the Decoy Project says it works directly with law enforcement.
Jordan Spohn, a 33-year-old advertising professional in Florida who founded the group, said he and seven volunteers pose as underage girls in online forums to identify potential groomers and pass tips to the FBI.
“We'll just sit there and wait maybe two or three seconds and we'll have 20-year-olds all the way up to 75-year-olds reach out,” he told Gothamist in an interview. “We'll just keep talking. Conversation will eventually get somewhere sexual.”
Still, Spohn livestreams many of his chats with alleged predators on Twitch, drawing thousands of viewers with his ribald commentary and voice synthesizer, which he uses to imitate a young girl. He said he avoids revealing identifying details to protect active investigations.
"We don't do it for YouTube clicks, we keep everything quiet," he said. "The audience can't find specific details on the predator or even know who it is. They just know that I'm talking to a predator.”
Online predator hunters have become increasingly popular on platforms like TikTok and YouTube. But law enforcement agencies have often expressed concerns about amateur sting operations, saying they can jeopardize prosecutions, put people at risk or prioritize internet fame over evidence gathering.
Spohn said his group aims to avoid those pitfalls.
The Decoy Project registered as a nonprofit in Florida in August 2025 and has not yet filed tax documents. Spohn said he raises money online but often pays more out of pocket to keep the group running, using his advertising work to make up the difference.
Schuler’s arrest is one of two cases Spohn said the group has helped lead to so far, along with an unrelated case in Michigan. He said he currently has 15 to 20 ongoing investigations.
Tagged
long island
new york state
public safety
suffolk county
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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