A registered sex offender, Mathew Hoard, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for attempted inducement of a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity, possession with intent to view child pornography, and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Mathew Hoard, aged 40 from Smithfield, received his sentence today from U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy. Following his prison term, he will be subject to eight years of federal supervised release.
In July 2020, Hoard engaged in online and text message communications with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl but who was actually an undercover Newport Police Department Detective. During these interactions, which lasted over two months, Hoard sent sexually explicit images and messages and repeatedly asked the "girl" for nude photos. He also tried to arrange a meeting for sexual activity.
In February 2020, during an unrelated investigation by the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children indicated that child pornography had been uploaded from an IP address linked to Hoard. On September 29, 2020, a court-authorized search at Hoard's residence led to the seizure of devices containing child pornography.
Hoard had previously been convicted in Rhode Island in 2011 for possession of child pornography and was required to register as a sex offender.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise M. Barton and Julie M. White prosecuted this case under Project Safe Childhood. This initiative aims to combat child sexual exploitation through coordinated efforts by federal, state, and local resources.
The investigation involved the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Newport Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Project Safe Childhood was launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 as part of efforts against child exploitation and abuse.
For more information on Project Safe Childhood: https://www.justice.gov/psc