RI Fire Marshal Charged In MA Federal Court With Possessing Child Pornography

BOSTON, MA — A Rhode Island fire marshal was arrested on child pornography charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston.

Jeffrey Almond, 41, the fire marshal for the town of Lincoln was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on charges of receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a media release.

Almond appeared in federal court in Providence Friday and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date, the release said.

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Almond used various online platforms to obtain child sexual abuse material and to "engage in sexually explicit chat communications with undercover law enforcement posing as purported minors," according to the release.

"In these communications, it is alleged that Almond discussed the exploitation of children, with the purpose of obtaining (child sexual abuse material) or soliciting a child for sex," the release said. "It is further alleged that, on two separate occasions, Almond knowingly transferred or attempted to transfer obscene matter to a minor on Aug. 7, 2024, and on Nov. 28, 2024."

In August, 2024, Almond also "used a social media app to communicate with an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing as a 15-year-old girl," according to the release.

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"In the communications, it is alleged that Almond asked the purported 15-year-old minor to produce and share (child sexual abuse material) with him and discussed meeting in person," the release said. "Almond allegedly stated, 'I guess I could do an Airbnb to get more privacy,' before sending an explicit image of his genitalia to the purported minor."

From October to November, "Almond used another social media app to communicate with a different undercover law enforcement officer, who was posing as a 'bad parent' of a purported 12-year-old minor female in Florida," according to the release.

"In the communications, it is alleged that Almond discussed wanting to have sex with the purported minor, often using explicit detail," the release said. "Almond also allegedly discussed travelling to Florida to sexually exploit the purported minor."

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