A Newport resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to the enticement of a minor and child pornography, according to an announcement from Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Kyle Patrick Tomey faces charges that include coercion and enticement of a minor, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. The indictment is an accusation, and Tomey is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
According to charging documents, Tomey allegedly communicated with a minor female through various social media platforms in order to entice her into illicit sexual activity. Court records indicate that law enforcement found multiple images of the minor victim in different stages of undress stored in one of Tomey's social media accounts. Investigators also uncovered numerous communications leading up to the alleged encounter as well as several images depicting other minors that qualify as child sexual abuse material.
Assistant United States Attorney Milind M. Shah is prosecuting the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and West Warwick Police Department, with assistance from Newport Police during the arrest.
"This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc"
To report suspected online child sexual exploitation or abuse, individuals can call 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or visit https://report.cybertip.org/
