Nude Photo Scandal: Flint A/V Owners Arrested By RI State Police

MIDDLETOWN, RI — The nude photo scandal at Flint Audio Video in Wakefield and in Middletown expanded today when state police arrested two owners. Gary W. Gagne, 58, and Daniel Anton, 35, both of Jamestown, were arrested at the Middletown store Friday morning at 10 a.m. They allegedly solicited an employee "to illegally access and share nude images found on customers’ cell phones and computers," police said. Both were charged with soliciting another to commit a crime (access to a computer for fraudulent purposes) and conspiracy

They were arraigned in Newport District Court and released on $30,000.00 personal recognizance "with a special bail condition of limited internet use," state police said.

Customers who brought cell phones, computers and other electronics to Flint Audio Video for repairs also unwittingly handed over their nude photos which the store employees copied and shared, state police allege. Their investigation indicated George Quintal, 34, of Middletown, the store manager, searched the devices and then shared the nude photos he found with Gagne and Anton. Also, the women customers' pictures were taken without their knowledge while they were in the store, "and those photos were then shared along with information about the digital device the customer was bringing in to be repaired," state police allege.

Despite the number of Flint employees arrested and charged and the allegations that both the Wakefield and Middletown stores were involved in the scandal, loyal customers insisted they would still do business with Gagne and Anton. State police said they have identified some of the customers whose nude photos were shared. But they have not identified all. Anyone who suspects their photos may have been stolen is asked to contact Detective Adam Houston at 401-921-8152.

Gagne / Photo Courtesy Rhode Island State Police

Anton / Photo Courtesy Rhode Island State Police

Timeline

June 14

Rhode Island State Police arrested George Quintal, 34, of Middletown. He was the manager of the store in the Shaws Plaza on East Main Road. State police raided his house on Jepson Lane in Middletown and seized devices with some 2,000 pictures. The pictures had been collected over a period of years, state police alleged. He was charged with accessing a computer for fraudulent purposes (three counts); and computer trespass (three counts).

June 15

The story about Quintal's arrest broke. Business owners Dan Anton and Gary Gagne, fired Quintal and issued a statement.

"We are shocked and outraged to learn of the arrest of George Quintal and because of the severity of the charges against him, we have fired him effective immediately," they said. "As an audio, visual and computer retailer in Rhode Island for more than 30 years, there is nothing we take more seriously than the privacy and safety of our customers. We are entrusted with their most valuable information, moments and memories, and we work diligently to provide the highest level of security."

June 22

State police arrested the warehouse manager, Terrance M. Roy, 46, of Seekonk, Mass. He was taken into custody at the Middletown store. An hour later, they arrested another Flint employee, Geoffrey P. Preuit, 43, of Warwick, at his home. Preuit works at the Flint store in South Kingstown.

Roy and Preuit have been charged with the same three offenses:

• Accessing a computer for fraudulent purposes
• Computer trespass
• Conspiracy

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June 28

State police at 6:10 a.m Thursday arrested Adam M. Jilling, 35, of West Warwick at his home. He was charged with soliciting another to commit a crime (access to a computer for fraudulent purposes) and conspiracy. He worked as a sales associate at both Flint Audio Video locations: 77 East Main Road, Middletown, and 35 South County Way, Unit D1, South Kingstown.

July 6

State police return to the Middletown store at 10 a.m. and arrest the owners.

Patch will update this story.

Cover File Photo: Margo Sullivan/ Patch Staff