O’Fallon man accused of enticing teen boy for sex worked for St. Louis Area Boy Scouts
An O’Fallon man charged as part of an undercover FBI sting that targeted online sexual predators had once been a full-time employee of the Greater St. Louis Area Boy Scouts.
Philip M. Reis, 55, was charged with attempted enticement of a minor on June 27. He is one of 14 local men indicted in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois as part of the operation.
Reis worked as a program director for the Greater St. Louis Area Boy Scouts Council for almost four years until 2017, spokesman David Chambliss confirmed.
“We are shocked and disgusted at this described behavior, which is reprehensible and runs counter to everything for which the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) stands,” Chambliss said in an email statement. “We are grateful to the dedicated men and women in law enforcement whose actions helped protect children in our communities.”
Reis’ lawyer did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
According to the federal complaint against him, Reis replied to an online advertisement featuring the profile of a young man on a dating app. The person behind profile was actually an undercover FBI agent.
In a text message exchange, the agent described himself as a 15-year-old boy whose parents would be away. When he asked Reis if he was still interested in “hooking up,” Reis responded “wow you look older,” but continued to set up a meeting anyway, according to a transcript of the online conversation included in the complaint.
During the exchange, Reis sent explicit photos of himself to the profile, the complaint states.
Reis was arrested on June 26, when he showed up at the Collinsville home he presumed to be the boy’s residence. The house was instead occupied by FBI agents.
The Greater St. Louis Area Boy Scouts Council learned of the charges later that week and immediately barred Reis from any participation in its programs.
“Nothing is more important than the safety and protection of children in our Scouting programs – it is our top priority,” Chambliss said.
Chambliss said the Boy Scouts of America has multiple safeguards in place to act as “barriers to abuse.”
These include a leadership policy that requires at least two “youth-protection” trained adults to be present with children at all times and bans one-on-one situations where adults would have any interaction alone with children either in person, online or via text.
The policy also entails a screening process for adult leaders and staff, including criminal background checks, and requires prompt mandatory reporting to police of any allegation or suspicion of abuse.
Reis’ bond was set at $5,000.
If convicted, he faces a minimum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and could receive as much as life behind bars. The charge also carry a possible lifetime term of supervised release and fines of up to $250,000.
Others charged or facing charges through the FBI sting are:
- Brett Brimberry: 28, Glen Carbon, charged with attempted enticement of a minor;
- Richard L. Britt: 38, Granite City, charged with attempted enticement of a minor and interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct;
Urich Gaines: 32, Belleville, charged with attempted enticement of a minor;
Kayln E. Hoggat: 27, Bridgeport, charged with attempted enticement of a minor and attempted production of child pornography;
Kevin Kamler: 30, O’Fallon, Missouri, charged with attempted enticement of a minor;
Brian Lotz: 56, Collinsville, charged with attempted enticement of a minor;
Anthony Parrish: 33, Swansea, charged with attempted enticement of a minor;
Vallie F. Zeller: 43, St. Louis, Missouri, charged with attempted enticement of a minor, interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct and attempted production of child pornography;
Nicholas Wright: 35, O’Fallon, Missouri, charged with attempted enticement of a minor, interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct and attempted sex trafficking of a child;
Preston Thomas: 57, St. Louis, Missouri, charged with attempted enticement of a minor;
Travis Shubert: 29, Granite City, charged with attempted enticement of a minor;
James R. Sears: 35, Bridgeport, charged with attempted enticement of a minor;
Gerald S. Sewell: 56, Belleville, charged with attempted enticement of a minor and interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
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