Oceanside man arrested in Queens, charged in sex sting

Police arrested an Oceanside man in Queens on Jan. 4 for allegedly trying to meet up with someone who he thought was a 14-year-old girl for sex.

According to the Queens District Attorney's Office, Andrew Cullen, 69, had actually been talking online with an undercover NYPD vice detective posing as a teenage girl. Police reports indicate the conversations took place between December 2009 and the beginning of January 2010, and that Cullen had extended several invitations to meet at a Queens motel for sex.

According to police, Cullen was arrested when he showed up for what he thought was a meeting with the girl at the corner of Queens Boulevard and Broadway in Elmhurst at 3 p.m. on Jan. 4. Cullen lives in Oceanside and works as an optician in Rosedale, Queens.

In a statement, Queens D.A. Richard Brown said the case should be a reminder to parents that sexual predators often use the Internet to lure their victims. “Let this be a warning to parents to closely monitor their children's Internet access and activities,” he said.

Cullen was arraigned Jan. 5 in Queens Criminal Court on charges on multiple charges, including second-degree attempted rape, first-degree attempted dissemination of indecent material to minors, and attempted endangering the welfare of a child, according to the D.A.'s office. A judge set his bail at $25,000, and asked him to surrender his passport. His next trial date is Jan. 19. According to the D.A.'s office, Cullen could face up to four years in prison if convicted.