An Attleboro resident, Gerard R. Proulx, Jr., 59, has been arrested and charged with one count of possession of child pornography. The arrest took place on February 25, 2026, followed by his initial appearance in federal court in Boston on the same day. He is currently being held in detention.
Proulx was previously convicted in 2012 for possession of child pornography in the District of Rhode Island and received a federal prison sentence of 30 years.
According to charging documents, law enforcement began investigating the receipt and distribution of child pornography online during the summer of 2025. Investigators downloaded multiple files from an IP address registered to Proulx. On February 25, 2025, authorities searched his residence and seized several electronic devices, including a desktop computer. It is alleged that a preliminary forensic examination found over 1,500 files consistent with child sexual abuse material on his desktop computer. The review of these devices is ongoing.
Members of the public who have questions or information about this case are encouraged to call 617-748-3274 or contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.
Due to Proulx’s prior conviction, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison if convicted. He also faces at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine as high as $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Secret Service Boston Field Office announced the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Zacks from the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
“This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice,” according to officials. “Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.” More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Officials emphasized that all details contained in charging documents are allegations at this stage; “The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”