Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
An Attleboro resident, Gerard R. Proulx, Jr., age 59, has been charged with one count of possession of child pornography following his arrest on February 25, 2026. Authorities state that Proulx was taken into custody and appeared in federal court in Boston on the same day, where he is currently being held.
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, a search was conducted at Proulx’s residence where several electronic devices were seized. Initial forensic analysis reportedly found over 1,500 files consistent with child sexual abuse material on his desktop computer. The review of other devices is ongoing.
Proulx had previously been convicted for possession of child pornography in the District of Rhode Island in 2012 and sentenced to a term in federal prison.
Because of his prior conviction, if found guilty on the current charge, Proulx faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and up to twenty years in prison, along with at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He could also be fined up to $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal judge based on 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.
The investigation forms part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation by coordinating resources among federal, state, and local agencies to identify offenders and support victims. More information about this program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Authorities remind the public that all allegations are accusations at this stage; “The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
Members of the public who have questions or information related to this case are encouraged to call 617-748-3274 or contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.
