(WBFF) — Three men, part of a group dubbed the “Nasty Nine,” have been arrested by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from TV host Chris Hansen.

The arrests took place in Havre de Grace, where the men believed they were meeting minors for sexual encounters.

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Among those arrested is 72-year-old Charles Schmidt, who used the app “Kik” under the username “Chuck33392” to communicate with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl named Courtney.

The conversation quickly turned sexual, with Schmidt expressing his intentions to engage in inappropriate acts.

Authorities revealed that Schmidt had taken erectile dysfunction medication and consumed alcohol while waiting for the supposed minor.

Another suspect, using the username “Tyler” on an app known as “Hily,” was identified as Ivan Walters.

Investigators say Walters solicited a 14-year-old boy, known as “Nate,” for oral sex and requested to urinate on him.

Then there was Tyler Devault, who, despite being 33 years old, claimed to be 19 on the “Hily” app.

Devault believed he was talking to a 14-year-old girl and instructed her how to shave her genital area as well as other private areas.

Devault also asked the believed 14-year-old for oral sex.

Hansen, whose television show “Takedown” documented the sting operations, described the cases as sickening but not surprising.

“I look at this as, you know, an addiction. Right, you talk about the fentanyl issue. People risk fentanyl being in their heroin, because they need the heroin. So they block that danger out. People know that it could be the Harford County Sheriff’s Office or me and my crew. But they need the fix. They need this sexual exploitation of a child,” Hansen said.

Hansen emphasized the ease with which predators can find children online due to the proliferation of digital platforms.

“The technology has made it easier for predators to find kids,” Hansen said. “There are more platforms than ever before. And I think the odds are, that they’re not going to get caught.”

Following the arrests, Ivan Walters has been released on bond, while another suspect, Devault, has been placed on home monitoring. Charles Schmidt remains in custody.