Three individuals are now facing federal charges for their alleged attempt to sex traffic a minor in Manchester. Officials identified the accused as 46-year-old Stacey Ray Lancaster, a teacher at Manchester's West High School, Arthur Picanco, 42, of Bradford, Massachusetts, and Ozeias Guilherme, 38, of Haverhill, Massachusetts. According to NBC Boston, the U.S. Attorney's office for New Hampshire confirmed the arrests and charges.
Following the arrest, the school district has taken action against the employee involved. In a letter describing the steps taken, Supt. Jennifer Chmiel addressed the community, stating, "These are serious and disturbing charges, and we are aware that Mr. Lancaster is in law enforcement custody. Mr. Lancaster has been placed on administrative leave, and the District is working closely with law enforcement agencies assigned to this case," as reported by WMUR. It was during an operation that involved a fake advertisement, mimicking having been composed of images of what seemed to be young females, all three defendants reportedly came to a hotel where they were arrested.
The investigation preceding the arrest was a collaborative effort by the Homeland Security Investigations team, Manchester Police, the Attorney General’s Office of New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, as explained in the NBC Boston article. The accused are expected to make their next courtroom appearance for detention hearings, which have been scheduled for the following Monday.
While the accusations are grave, it appears that no children were physically impacted by this operation. Supt. Jennifer Chmiel addressed potential concerns in her communication, "These are serious and disturbing charges, and we are aware that Mr. Lancaster is in law enforcement custody," via WMUR. Her letter ensures the community that those with immediate concerns can reach out to the U.S. attorney's office directly. The interagency collaboration underscores the ongoing commitment to safeguarding children against such predatory acts.
