Miami hairstylist for stars tried to meet 15-year-old and sent explicit photos: cops
Ryan Pearl, 37, was charged with two counts of harmful electronic transmission to minors and one count each of using a device to seduce a child to engage in unlawful sexual conduct, cocaine possession, contributing to the delinquency of a child and traveling to meet a minor.
Pearl has worked at IGK Salons and Ollin Miami, luxury hair salons, according to his social-media profiles. He met the girl when she was a 13-year-old client and remained her hairstylist, Miami police announced Thursday.
On Saturday, her mother noticed her daughter received two money deposits from an unknown number and her daughter told her the money came from Pearl, police said. The mother looked through the phone to see why a hairstylist would be sending money and found 'an inappropriate conversation' between her daughter and him.
Police were called and officers quickly moved to set up a sting operation with Pearl in the center, an arrest report read. A detective posed as the girl and began a conversation with Pearl using her Snapchat account.
On Monday, Pearl began conversing with the hidden detective and sent a slew of inappropriate, sexually charged messages, the report read. He also sent three images of his naked body to the girl's account. police said.
The detective had Pearl set up a meet-up on Wednesday for what he thought would be sex, but was actually an undercover operation, accoding to police.
On that day, Pearl drove to the agreed-upon spot and was quickly arrested by Miami police officers. He had $295 on him, and pink cocaine, condoms and blueberry vapes meant for the girl were in his car, the report read.
'The Miami Police Department is committed to protecting the youth of our community and is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting individuals who exploit children,' police said.
Pearl was no longer in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as of Friday.
'This case serves as a critical reminder for parents to remain vigilant regarding their children's online interactions,' police said.
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