By Tiffany Williams –
BOSTON – The fire marshal for Lincoln, Rhode Island, Jeffrey Almond, 41, has been arrested and charged with receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and sending or attempting to send obscene material to minors. Almond also allegedly engaged in sexually explicit chats with individuals he believed to be minors.
Almond was 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. He made his initial appearance in federal court in Providence and is scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the indictment, between February 12, 2024, and November 28, 2024, Almond used multiple online platforms to receive CSAM and engage in sexually explicit communications with undercover law enforcement officers posing as minors. During these interactions, he allegedly discussed the exploitation of children to obtain CSAM or solicit sex. On two occasions, August 7, 2024, and November 28, 2024, Almond is alleged to have knowingly transferred or attempted to transfer obscene material to a minor.
Court documents detail that in August 2024, Almond communicated via a social media app with an undercover officer posing as a 15-year-old girl, asking for sexually explicit images and discussing meeting in person. He allegedly sent an explicit image of himself and suggested renting an Airbnb to gain privacy.
In October and November 2024, Almond is alleged to have used another social media app to communicate with an officer posing as a “bad parent” of a 12-year-old minor in Florida. During these conversations, he allegedly discussed sexual activity with the purported minor and traveling to Florida to exploit her.
The charge of receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The possession charge carries up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of attempted transfer of obscene material each carry up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are determined by a federal judge under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable statutes.