RI State Police Arrest Manager For Sharing Customers' Nude Photos

MIDDLETOWN, RI — State police have arrested the manager at Flint Audio and Video in the Shaws Plaza. They also raided his home and seized electronics devices with some 2,000 pictures. George Quintal, 34, of Middletown, was arrested at home at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Thursday. He is accused of sharing nude pictures from customers' cell phones and computers. The devices had been brought to the store for repairs. The Computer Crimes Unit – Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force made the arrest.

He's also been fired, according to a spokesman for Flint Audio and Video. The business owners, Dan Anton and Gary Gagne, Owners, Flint Audio Video, issued this statement.

“We are shocked and outraged to learn of the arrest of George Quintal and because of the severity of the charges against him, we have fired him effective immediately. As an audio, visual and computer retailer in Rhode Island for more than 30 years, there is nothing we take more seriously than the privacy and safety of our customers. We are entrusted with their most valuable information, moments and memories, and we work diligently to provide the highest level of security.

"We understand the gravity of this situation and we are working to prevent this activity from ever happening again. We will assist the Rhode Island State Police in any manner possible to help identify any customers who may have been affected.”

Quintal is charged with Accessing a computer for fraudulent purposes (three counts); and Computer trespass (three counts). He was in court Friday and released on his own recognizance but with "special bail conditions of no internet access and no contact orders for the three victims identified so far," state police said.

"Mr. Quintal allegedly searched the electronic files on those devices, without the victims' knowledge or consent," state police said. "He further allegedly took photos of nude images found on these devices and shared them with other people without the victims' knowledge or permission."

Any Flint customers concerned their pictures might also have been shared should contact Detective Adam Houston at 401-921-8152.

"Rhode Island State Police have identified several of the alleged victims found in these photos, but they are still working to identify others," state police said.