BOSTON – Jeffrey Almond, 41, the Fire Marshal for Lincoln, Rhode Island, is facing federal charges after allegedly engaging in a horrifying pattern of online predation and possessing sickening material. The Department of Justice announced today that Almond has been indicted on charges relating to the receipt, possession, and attempted distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), as well as engaging in sexually explicit communications with individuals he believed to be minors.
According to the indictment, Almond’s depravity unfolded between February 12, 2024, and November 28, 2024. He allegedly used various online platforms to solicit and receive CSAM, simultaneously engaging in explicit chats with undercover law enforcement officers posing as underage girls. The indictment details conversations where Almond allegedly discussed the exploitation of children, actively seeking CSAM or attempting to arrange in-person encounters.
The specifics are chilling. In August 2024, Almond allegedly connected with an undercover officer pretending to be a 15-year-old on a social media app. He reportedly requested the officer produce and share CSAM, even discussing the possibility of renting an Airbnb for “privacy” before sending an explicit image of himself. Separately, in October and November, he allegedly contacted another undercover officer posing as the “bad parent” of a 12-year-old girl in Florida, expressing a desire to have sex with the minor and discussing travel plans to facilitate sexual exploitation.
The charges against Almond are substantial. He is indicted on one count of receipt of child pornography; one count of possession of child pornography; and two counts of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. If convicted on the receipt of child pornography charge, Almond faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, and up to 20 years in prison, along with at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The possession charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, while each attempted transfer charge carries a maximum of 10 years.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, announced the indictment. The Portsmouth Rhode Island Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator, is leading the prosecution. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation, bringing together federal, state, and local resources to apprehend predators and rescue victims.
It’s a grim reminder that predators can hide in plain sight, even within positions of public trust. While the indictment lays out the allegations, Almond is presumed innocent until proven guilty. But the details revealed today paint a disturbing picture, and Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it moves through the federal court system. You can find more information on Project Safe Childhood at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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