QUEENSBURY — A dozen men were charged with soliciting sex with an underage girl online, police said Monday.

The men came to Queensbury planning to hook up with either a pimp or an underage girl, age 9 to 14, only to discover they were meeting with a cop who then arrested them.

"You would not believe the number of predators out there," Warren County Sheriff Bud York said at a press conference Monday afternoon. "It's sickening."

The arrests were the result of a six-week investigation, known as Spider Byte, by the sheriff's office, State Police and the FBI.

"It is an operation we do on occasion with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to arrest sexual predators and hopefully deter others from participating in this type of behavior," State Police Capt. Robert Patnaude said. "We want sexual deviants to know that the person they think is a 14-year-old girl online might just be a trooper."

Those arrested used social media, including Facebook, to communicate with what they thought were underage girls.

The sheriff said among those arrested are Frank Gunther, a Mechanicville City School District bus driver; Timothy Celeste, a Glens Falls radio personality; and Thomas Abrams, a captain from Westchester County Department of Correction.

York said he hoped that releasing the defendants' names will encourage victims to come forward.

"I don't think this is the first time for these men," the sheriff said. "If anyone recognizes these men, call us. We are expecting more charges. Really, this could be opening a Pandora's box."

Those arrested by the Warren County sheriff were charged with attempted rape. Those arrested by the State Police face attempted criminal sex act charges. If convicted of the felonies, the men would be required to register as sex offenders.

The sting involved an undercover officer posing as the girls' pimp who met with prospective johns Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Once a price was agreed upon, the men were arrested, the official said.

"One tried to get away," said State Police Senior. Investigator Karl Meybaum. "But with a SWAT team with guns drawn surrounding them, they cooperate."

York said some men brought drugs, alcohol and sexual paraphernalia with them.

"I'd like to see these guys gone longer than one or two years," York said. "We need to change the system. They need to be gone for life because when they come out, they abuse children again. Society needs to do something about this. It's sick."

The 12 men arrested are:

Jose Roberto Zapata-Cruz, 32, of 1017 Wendell Ave., Schenectady, charged with attempted rape.

Gerald F. Harrington III, 36, of 30 Lupine Lane, Queensbury, charged with attempted rape.

Thomas J. Clancy III, 21, of 2 Concord Drive, Saratoga Springs, charged with attempted rape.

Mark D. Hodges, 63, of 1112 New Loudon Road, Latham, charged with attempted rape, attempted aggravated sexual abuse and criminal possession of a weapon.

Roger P. Whiting III, 43, of 29 Mallory Ave., Queensbury, charged with attempted rape.

Paul R. Wilson, 31, of 36 Ethan Allen St., Fort Edward, charged with attempted rape.

Peter J. Fava, 41, of Halifax, Mass., charged with attempted criminal sex acts.

William K. O'Connell, 46, of Fort Edward, charged with attempted criminal sex acts and attempted rape.

Timothy Celeste, 49, Glens Falls, charged with attempted criminal sex acts.

Adam S. Hiedman, 32, of Schenectady, charged with attempted criminal sex acts.

Thomas G. Abrams, 52, of Wappingers Falls, Dutchess County, charged with attempted criminal sex acts.

Frank L. Gunther, 61, of Mechanicville, charged with attempted criminal sex acts.