[Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and the information contained below is not intended nor does it constitute legal advice.]
What happened to retired US Army General Michael Flynn could easily happen to NXIVM loyalists. They might choose to lie to law enforcement.
It has been reported that NXIVM is under investigation. It is reasonable to conclude from this “data” that law enforcement agents have been assigned and are involved in the case.
It is equally reasonable to conclude that NXIVM students will do what they are well trained to do: Lie.
If law enforcement agents come to visit, as they often do – in teams, and without an appointment – the normal NXIVM recourse to lying could come with consequences.
Making false statements to a federal agent is a federal crime: Section 1001 of Title 18 of the United States Code. It prohibits making fraudulent statements, or concealing information, even by mere denial, to a federal agent. That agent might be from the FBI, Homeland Security, the IRS or any other federal agency.
Don’t lie, falsify, conceal, or cover up, or scheme with one another, or create any false writing or document knowing it’s false, fictitious, or fraudulent. If you do, and you get caught, you can be imprisoned for five years.
If the law enforcement agent is from New York State, such as the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and if there is no federal agent present, you can still be charged for lying under New York State Penal law: S 195.05 Obstructing governmental administration in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor, which can mean up to one year in jail.
Since some NXIVM members are trained in the ‘ethical’ destruction of evidence, in addition to training in ‘ethical’ lying to keep secrets, these might find themselves running afoul of US Code 1519.
Karen Unterreiner, Ben Myers, Michelle Salzman, Jimmy Del Negro, Kathy Russell, Karen Abney, Rosa Laura Junco, Loretta Garza and others, take note: “Whoever knowingly alters, destroys, mutilates, conceals, covers up, falsifies, or makes a false entry in any record, document, or tangible object with the intent to impede, obstruct, or influence the investigation ..shall be … imprisoned not more than 20 years.”
That includes adding false entries to computers or scrubbing them, dropping them in the Hudson River or altering them in any way to not reflect the truth.
Then there is New York State penal law 215.40. A person is guilty of tampering with evidence when the person “knowingly makes, devises or prepares false physical evidence, or b) produces or offers such evidence at such a proceeding knowing it to be false’ or knowing evidence might be used, “suppresses it by any act of concealment, alteration or destruction.”
Tampering with evidence is a class E felony, punishable by up to four years in prison.
What this suggests is that when law enforcement comes calling, you should not lie. You have the right to retain an attorney. You are not required to speak to law enforcement. But if you choose to speak, tell the truth.
If you have not yet destroyed evidence, do not do so now. If you have destroyed or tampered with evidence, consult an attorney.
DO NOT use an attorney recommended by Keith Raniere, Clare Bronfman, Nancy Salzman, Lauren Salzman, Sara Bronfman-Igtet, Emiliano Salinas, Alex Betancourt, or Karen Unterreiner – even if they offer to pay for your attorney.
You need not tell anyone in NXIVM that you are consulting an attorney. Find an independent criminal lawyer familiar with federal and state criminal law including white collar crime. If you can’t find any that are available in your area (which, given the number of potential defendants in this case, is quite possible), contact me – and I will provide you with the names of several attorneys who are not conflicted out.
Many of you who may have committed crimes on behalf of NXIVM may also be victims. Your lawyer may be able to tell you the extent of your criminal jeopardy and help you avoid prosecution in exchange for forthright testimony and cooperation with the investigation.
Your Vanguard has left the USA. This is not a coincidence.
Those who act intelligently will more likely be spared a great deal of grief and a good deal of punishment. You may later look back on this month, December 2017, as the most critical month of your life. Do not waste another moment.
Hey members, I went to down to Mexico to build up the mission down there. Nothing to worry about, Your Vanguard, your “co-founder”, has got it covered. Sit tight with the other “co founder”, Nancy Salzman.
There is some very good advice in this post for those of you who are still involved with NXIVM. Here’s one more suggestion: Be among the first group of people to cut a deal, not the last. Take a lesson from former National Security Advisor Mike Flynn, who could have gone to jail for 20-40 years. Instead, he’s going to serve a maximum of 6-months and his son and wife are not going to be charged at all.
Gather up whatever evidence you have of illegal activities – and put it someplace safe. Then, contact an attorney – and explain what you have and ask him or her to reach out to the FBI. If you can’t afford an attorney, provide Frank with your contact information, and someone will reach out to you.
Be strong and this will all work out.
Well said and sound advice.
In order to gather the courage one should not trust talking to one’s coach or mentor.
One should not get some EMs over their fear issues
Ones should not take a walk with anyone who has been in NXIVM a long time who has a vested interest in. NXIVM ship staying afloat. They will either love bomb you, beat the holy spirit right out of you or both.
If you live in Mexico NXIVM officials will pay to have false charges brought against you & bribe a judge. If you live in the United States or Canada they can attempt to file false changes against you. Let’s hope that happens as it makes the FEDS really happy when they do that kind of lying.
Can those still left be earning any money? How can any school keep its doors open with people jumping ship,likes it’s on fire?
How with all the mounting evidence can anyone believe their mentors? Articles are being done in publications that do their homework and fact checking. It’s not like information is coming out in rag magazines one see at the check out lines at the grocery stores .
Forest Gump said it right , stupid is what stupid does . You just can’t fix stupid. Even after thousands upon thousands of dollars training attempting to teach people logical thinking skills , they just don’t get it .
The people still in ESP have chosen to stay despite branding, very legitimate pedophelia claims, fraud, constant lies and even the founder fleeing the country. They are “all in”. Maybe jail would wake them up? Nothing like waking up with an amorous 300 pound man or woman behind you.
Would you ever have joined if Keith’s biography wasn’t what it was? Would you have asked more questions, done more research, even maybe joined with a little skepticism? As you all probably now know (and your BS internal warning told you at the time of joining), Keith’s “documented” intelligence is a fraud. He is not a NY State sprinting champion. His Judo skills revolve around his hour long group lessons his mom dropped him off at every T at 6pm and Sat morning. His Consumer Byline business showed his ass and he flipped it to blame it on “The Man trying to keep him down.”
You never would have jumped into this thing if it wasn’t for being sold on Keith being one of the most intelligent men on the planet. Keith is good at having women tell lies about him in order to get you to give him what he wants. What he wants is your money or your body. Or both.
As many others are currently doing – Quietly leave.