A federal indictment has been issued against Jeffrey Almond, 41, the Fire Marshal for Lincoln, Rhode Island. Almond was arrested and charged with receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), as well as attempted transfer of obscene material to minors.
Authorities allege that from February 12, 2024, through November 28, 2024, Almond used various online platforms to receive CSAM and engage in sexually explicit conversations with undercover law enforcement officers posing as minors. The indictment states that Almond discussed child exploitation with the intent to obtain CSAM or solicit a minor for sex. On two occasions—August 7 and November 28, 2024—he allegedly transferred or attempted to transfer obscene material to someone he believed was a minor.
Court documents detail an August 2024 incident in which Almond used a social media app to communicate with an officer posing as a 15-year-old girl. During these communications, he allegedly requested that the purported minor produce and share CSAM and discussed meeting in person. According to the filings, Almond said, “I guess I could do an air bnb to get more privacy,” before sending an explicit image of his genitalia.
In another instance during October and November 2024, authorities allege Almond communicated via another app with a different undercover officer who posed as a parent of a supposed 12-year-old girl in Florida. In those conversations, Almond allegedly expressed interest in traveling to Florida to sexually exploit the purported minor and described his intentions in explicit detail.
Almond faces one count each of receipt and possession of child pornography, both carrying potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $250,000. The charges related to attempted transfer of obscene material carry possible sentences of up to ten years each. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated: “United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today.” She noted assistance from the Portsmouth Rhode Island Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm is prosecuting the case.
The prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation nationwide by coordinating efforts among federal, state, and local agencies (https://www.justice.gov/psc).
Authorities remind the public that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
