New York State Police said the men allegedly sought unlawful contact with people they believed were children under 15.
SYRACUSE, NY — Eight men, including a Central New York rabbi, were charged with attempted rape after a two-day undercover child exploitation operation in Onondaga County, according to New York State Police.
State police said members of the agency’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force carried out the operation Aug. 27 and 28 with assistance from the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and several state police units. Investigators said the eight defendants were attempting to engage in unlawful contact with people they believed were children under the age of 15. The people involved in the undercover communications were law enforcement officers, according to reports and court records describing the operation.
All eight were charged with attempted rape in the second degree, a Class E felony, state police said. Those arrested Aug. 27 were Jarod M. Groah, 42, of Frankfort; William D. Sheehan, 53, of Syracuse; John L. Dejesus, 34, of Syracuse; Peter B. Schaktman, 66, of New Hartford; and Xiaoqing Qi, 37, of Syracuse. Arrested Aug. 28 were Marvin D. Knapp, 44, of Syracuse; William D. Whitfield, 41, of Seneca Falls; and Kevin M. Lapoint, 65, of Cicero.
Schaktman is a rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in Utica. Court documents cited by local news organizations allege that he communicated online with an undercover officer whom he believed was a 14-year-old boy and arranged to meet the person at a hotel on Electronics Parkway. Police arrested him when he arrived, according to those reports. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Temple Emanu-El suspended Schaktman from his rabbinic duties after learning of the charge. The congregation said it was “shocked and deeply troubled” by the case and said Schaktman would not be permitted to perform rabbinic duties or be on temple property while the legal process and an internal review continue. The temple also said it would cooperate with law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities.
The congregation emphasized that the criminal case is separate from its internal process and noted that Schaktman is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. CNY Central, citing WKTV, reported that Schaktman was arraigned in Onondaga County Court on Aug. 28 and pleaded not guilty. He was being held at the Onondaga County Justice Center when the local report was published.
Court papers cited by local media describe similar undercover encounters involving the other defendants. Police alleged that the men believed they were arranging meetings with 14-year-olds at hotels in the Syracuse and Salina areas. In two cases, court records cited in those reports alleged that money was offered or paid in connection with a planned meeting. Those allegations are part of the pending criminal cases and have not been adjudicated.
State police said the operation included personnel from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the FBI, the Troop D Computer Crime Unit, the Syracuse Special Investigations Unit, State Police in North Syracuse and Homeland Security Investigations in Syracuse. The task force investigates online crimes involving the exploitation of children and works with federal, state and local agencies.
Authorities have asked people with information about the defendants’ alleged activity, including anyone who believes they may have been a victim, to contact New York State Police. The criminal charges remain accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Author note: Last updated September 3, 2026.