Fugitive held on bail in connection with Fall River trafficking ring involving co-defendant’s juvenile relative

A fugitive wanted in connection with the sex trafficking of a Fall River child has been held on bail.

According to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, 57-year-old Thomas Almeida was held on $100,000 cash bail during his arraignment on Thursday afternoon.

According to Dave Procopio of Massachusetts State Police, the MSP Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section and the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force on Sunday arrested Almeida on a warrant charging him in connection with the sex trafficking of a child. The arrest was the result of information developed by the Fall River Police Major Crimes Unit. Almeida, who fled Massachusetts in 2018 before he could be apprehended, and was possibly in Florida, was the last defendant in the case who had not been arrested.

An investigation by Fall River Police in 2018 led to the issuance of the arrest warrant charging Almeida with the offense of sexual conduct with a child under 18. The victim in the case, a juvenile, was held against her will, drugged, and forced to engage in sexual acts.

In the case, a Fall River man who took part in multiple rapes of his close relative and also assisted in prostituting her for drugs and money was sentenced to serve 30 to 40 years in state prison after pleading guilty.

A Fall River woman who took part in multiple rapes of the juvenile female and also assisted in prostituting the girl for drugs and money was sentenced to serve 10 to 15 years in state prison after pleading guilty.

Almeida is accused of paying to have sex with Machado’s trafficking victim. Almeida himself is not charged with trafficking, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

On August 6, 2023, the Fall River Police Major Crimes Unit developed information that Almeida may be back in the area and contacted MSP VFAS for assistance in locating him. Investigators developed information that Almeida was at TF Green International Airport awaiting a return flight to Florida. MSP VFAS and the RI VFTF located Almeida at the Jet Blue Terminal at approximately 1:30 p.m. and took him into custody without incident.

Additional charges may be added against Almeida.