Press Release  Quincy Man Charged with Creating Fake Online Profiles to Solicit Acts of Rape, Kidnapping and Assault Against Women

Boston — A Quincy man has been indicted in connection with allegedly creating multiple fake online profiles of women from across the state on an adult website and soliciting acts of kidnapping, rape and assault, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Thomas Sheehan, age 46, of Quincy, was indicted Thursday by a Statewide Grand Jury on the charges of Solicitation to Commit Rape (three counts), Solicitation to Commit Rape of a Child (two counts), Solicitation to Commit Kidnapping (five counts) and Wanton or Reckless Behavior Creating a Risk of Serious Bodily Injury or Sexual Abuse to a Child (two counts).

Sheehan will be arraigned in Norfolk Superior Court at a later date.

“This defendant allegedly put the lives of multiple women and their children at risk by using a website and a phony profile to commit acts of violence,” said AG Healey. “As criminals increasingly use technology to perpetrate crimes, we need to be vigilant in cracking down on these types of dangerous and disturbing schemes.”

The AG’s Office began an investigation after the case was referred by the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office and the Essex District Attorney’s Office. Sheehan was arrested in January by State Police assigned to the AG’s Office with assistance from Groveland Police. He is being held on $15,000 cash bail.

Groveland Police, with assistance from State Police assigned to the AG’s Office and Quincy Police, determined that Sheehan impersonated three different women on an adult website and communicated with people on the website who expressed an interest in stalking, raping, kidnapping and torturing the women and their children per Sheehan’s request. The online profiles Sheehan created have been taken down from the website.

These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Allyson Portney, of AG Healey’s Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crime Division, with assistance from Victim Witness Advocate Amber Anderson, of AG Healey’s Victim Witness Services Division. It was investigated by Groveland Police with assistance from Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Office, Quincy Police and investigators from the AG’s Digital Evidence Lab. The Norfolk District Attorney’s Office and Essex District Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation of this case.

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