Massachusetts Man Charged with Attempting to Entice a Minor Following Operation “Red Card”

Providence- A Rehoboth, Massachusetts man has been charged federally for allegedly attempting to entice a person he believed to be a 15-year-old female to engage in sexual activity and travelling to Rhode Island to meet her, announced First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police Colonel Darnell S. Weaver, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Ted Docks.

The charges stem from Operation Red Card, a multi-agency human trafficking and child exploitation enforcement initiative conducted by the Rhode Island State Police (RISP) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Richard Lallier, 34, is charged by way of federal criminal complaint with attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, attempted interstate travel for illicit sexual conduct with a minor, and attempted transmission of obscene material to a minor. He was ordered detained at his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on Thursday, June 18, 2026.

"Behind every child exploitation case is an adult who made a deliberate decision to target a minor. The responsibility for that conduct rests solely with the offender," said First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. "Together with our law enforcement partners, we remain committed to identifying those individuals, protecting children, and holding offenders accountable."

According to court documents, for two days, beginning on June 16, 2026, Lallier communicated with a person he believed was a 15-year-old female, who was an undercover RISP Detective. It is alleged that, believing he was communicating with the minor, Lallier sent sexually explicit messages, videos of his genitalia, discussed meeting for sexual activity, and traveled to Rhode Island to meet her.

"Child sexual exploitation cases are among the most disturbing the FBI works, and they're also some of the most impactful. We're gratified to help take Richard Lallier off the street," said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Boston Division. "Know that your FBI is working 24/7 before, during, and after the World Cup to ensure those seeking to exploit our most vulnerable won't get away with it. If child predators can't or won't keep themselves away from kids, the FBI stands ready to step in and shut them down."

"I commend the outstanding work of our detectives, our partners at the FBI, NCIS, the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office, and the United States Attorney's Office whose coordinated efforts led to this arrest," said Colonel Darnell S. Weaver, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and the Director of the Department of Public Safety. "We will continue to aggressively pursue those who target children and ensure they are brought to justice."

Lallier was arrested on June 17, 2026, by members of the RISP and FBI after he arrived at the location where it is alleged he had arranged to meet with the person he believed he had been communicating with.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Taylor Dean and Denise Marie Barton.

The matter was investigated by the RISP and the FBI, with valuable assistance provided by the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office.

A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.