The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation arrested Thomas J. Matteis, 53, for allegedly showing up at a residence on Crewdson Street to have sex with a 14-year-old girl.
On Tuesday a TBI agent conducted an undercover sex sting operation that targeted people traveling into Chattanooga to have sex with minors.
The agent had responded to an online ad in January that said, “I want a teenage sl**.”
The person behind the ad lived in Hazel Green, Al., and used his email to correspond with the agent, who posed as a 14-year-old female.
Using the persona of the underage girl, the agent scheduled a time and place for the two to meet.
On Tuesday night, Matteis arrived at 313 Crewdson Street in anticipation of engaging in sexual activities with a minor.
Instead, he was placed under arrest for aggravated statutory rape and is now being held on a $20,000 bond.