The FBI discovered child porn on his computer. Now the former cop is headed to prison
A former Boynton Beach police officer will get prison time after being caught with child porn, according to court records.
Gabriel Albala, 45, was sentenced Wednesday to 30 months behind bars, followed by five years of supervised release, for having several images on his home computer of prepubescent children performing sex acts, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
The FBI began investigating the former officer in July 2019 after searching the transactions records of a man who was convicted of selling child pornography. Through that inquiry, they discovered that a “John Smith” had paid the seller various sums that amounted to $305 on five separate occasions between September and October 2018, the complaint says. “John Smith” turned out to be Albala.
Investigators executed a warrant for Albala’s Margate home in late August. There, they seized a computer from his bedroom that contained at least three videos of boys and girls under age 12 engaging in sexual activity, the complaint says.
A search of Albala’s cellphone yielded additional child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Albala pleaded guilty to one count of possessing material involving the sexual exploitation of minors in January.
As part of his sentence, Albala will also have to register as a sex offender when he is released.
