[Based on reports from Dianne Lipson and others in the courtroom today]
The verdict came in. Keith Alan Raniere was found guilty on all counts.
Mark Vicente and Susan Dones were in the courtroom. Barbara Bouchey, Catherine Oxenberg, and Toni Natalie were there.
Judge Nicholas Garaufis came in wearing his robes [something he often did not do during the trial. He said on the first day of trial, while wearing his robes, that he does not like to wear robes, and asked the jury not to think he did not think this case was important just because he might not wear his robes. He often did not wear his robes.] But today he wore his robes.
When the defendant, Keith Alan Raniere, AKA Vanguard came in, he was busy talking to one of his lawyers, Paul DerOhannesian.
Keith looked serious. He knew the jig was up. His lawyers later admitted that they spoke to Keith before he came in and they advised him that, due to the ultra-fast decision by the jury – they had deliberated less than five hours [and that included lunch] – that this looked quite grim.
Keith looked a little down, depressed. Maybe even scared.
All rose for the jury- who walked in. They were not looking at Keith. They went to their accustomed seats, where they have sat through 25 days of trial – all in the presence of Raniere.
But they did not look at him. That was not a good sign either.
And Keith did not look at the jury, either. He was looking intently at the judge.
Each of the charges was read by the bailiff. The foreman was the spokesman for the jury.
He answered each and every one of the charged counts exactly the same –‘”Guilty.”
And as per count #2 – when each of the racketeering predicate acts was read, the foreman answered each one exactly the same – “Proven.”
When count #2 was read, and the foreman said, “Guilty,” Keith, perhaps involuntarily, nodded and began his fade to red.
As each additional charge was read and he was found to be guilty of each, Keith’s face became redder and redder and he seemed to get smaller, and smaller, – it appeared to be so – the redder he got, the smaller he seemed – while he kept hearing the same answers over and over again.
Imagine the scene:
Bailiff: As to count two, racketeering, how do you find the defendant?
Foreman: Guilty.
Bailiff: Since you answered, “Guilty” as to Count Two, indicate whether the following Racketeering Acts
were proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Racketeering Act 1, 1A (Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft – Ashana Chenoa)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 1B (Conspiracy to Unlawfully Possess Identification Document)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 2 (Sexual Exploitation of a Child on November 2, 2005 – Camila)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 3 (Sexual Exploitation of a Child on November 24, 2005 – Camila)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 4 (Possession of Child Pornography – Camila’s photos)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 5, 5A (Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff: 5B (Identity Theft – James Loperfido)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff: 5C (Identity Theft – Edgar Bronfman)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 6 (Conspiracy to Alter Records for Use in an Official Proceeding)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 7 (Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft – Marianna)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 8, 8A (Trafficking for Labor and Services – Daniela)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff 8B (Document Servitude – Daniela)
Foreman: Proved.
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 9 (Extortion)
Foreman: Proved.
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 10, 10A (Sex Trafficking – Nicole)
Foreman: Proved.
Bailiff: 10B (Forced Labor – Nicole)
Foreman: Proved.
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 11 (Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft – Pamela Cafritz)
Foreman: Proved.
Bailiff: As to Count One, Racketeering Conspiracy. How do you find the defendant?
Foreman: Guilty.
Bailiff: As to Count Three, Forced Labor Conspiracy. How do you find the defendant?
Foreman: Guilty.
Bailiff: As to Count Four, As to Wire Fraud Conspiracy. How do you find the defendant?
Foreman: Guilty.
Bailiff: As to Count Five, Sex Trafficking Conspiracy. How do you find the defendant?
Foreman: Guilty.
Bailiff: As to Count Six, Sex Trafficking of Nicole. How do you find the defendant?
Foreman: Guilty.
Bailiff: You find the defendant guilty as to Count Six. Do you find that the defendant knew means of force, fraud or coercion would be used to cause one or more persons to engage in one or more commercial sex acts?
Foreman: Yes.
Bailiff: As to Count Seven, Attempted Sex Trafficking of Jay. How do you find the defendant?
Foreman: Guilty.
All the while this questioning and answering by the bailiff and the foreman was going on, Keith continued to look straight at the judge.
After the foremen finished his last answer of “guilty”, the judge asked each of the individual jurors, one by one, starting with juror number 2, he said, “Juror Number 2, do you agree with this verdict?”
As the judge asked each juror, Keith looked at the jurors.
Each of the jurors – from number two to number 12, in turn, answered yes.
The case was officially over.
Before he dismissed the jury, the judge thanked them for their professionalism and said they were excellent citizens. He said, “We’re honored by your participation in this trial.”
All rose for the jury. The jury left to resume their lives, anonymous. Free from having to explain their decision, unless of course, they choose to do so.
Keith Alan Raniere AKA Vanguard was immediately handcuffed by US Marshals – who seemed a trifle too pleased with their last act in the courtroom in his trial. They handcuffed the Vanguard and led him away, to his new role, now and forever, as a convicted felon, sequestered – by walls and bars – from those he had preyed upon and others who he would have preyed upon had this day not occurred.
Sentencing will be September 25, 2019. He faces life in prison.
Frank Parlato 
Janine Morrison 
J.J. O'Hara 
Richard Luthmann 
Marie White 
Paul Serran
Please leave a comment: Your opinion is important to us!
Why is James DelNegro out still going around bamboozling women and students? It’s a proven fact he participated in many schemes involving even disguises to withdraw mass amounts of money. To fool bank tellers. Fact. He has ruined and been involved since day one. And has ruined many lives and broken up many families in the disguise of self=help. Come on Frank do your magic. You know how much money he illegally signed for in California.
Thank’s Frank for all that you have done. I hope the whole stinking lot of them get exposed for who they really are. There is still a lot of work to be done on many fronts, unfortunately.
Thank you very much, Frank and congratulations from Mexico today that Raniere was found guilty on all counts! You have been very brave and you have done an excellent and wonderful work.
What will now be left to frankreport on?
I’m not speaking for Frank, BUT: I believe additional charges will be filed – against Clare and maybe KAR. Then there will be the sentencing of all the Defendants, at various times. Plus you can be sure that KAR will appeal his conviction.
I worked for CBI in the early 90s. I was young and sensitive and when I was uncomfortable or uncertain or when attention was drawn to me, I blushed. Keith made me very uncomfortable – staring weirdly, rubbing my shoulders when I was working at my desk, etc. so when I was around him I often blushed and he loved it. Loved it. He’d say,”oh look at you. Turning red again.” And rare times I didn’t blush around him, he’d try and make me. “Oooo. You gonna turn RED now?” He’d walk by me, ”Red. Red.” And when that got boring he would make me blush for other people. “Hey wanna see something funny? Come here. Watch this.” And he’d turn to me and say “Red.” The best was the day we had a big meeting and the whole company was there. And I was seated in front of him and he said to everyone, “Before we get started I want to show you something….” So when I saw your headline here. Well, poetic fucking justice.
Oh wow anon! congratulations… Frank please post this!
That’s awesome, Anonymous! Thanks for sharing! Keith really loved to publically embarrass people.
That’s amazing and horrifying. What a piece of shit – excuse my French. I stayed at his smelly Flintlock place in 1990 as a “guest” – he and his chick-a-doos acted pretty normally. Now I know at the time, he was raping Rhiannon. I am very angry at being fooled.
The most frightening sociopath is one who can act normally.
All his faithful, daily watching of the OJ trial for nothing. There was no OJ moment when the verdict was read!
One more step Frank – you and Rick Ross and all NXIVM litigation targets class action suit against Claire Bronfman for every cent left in her cash stash – and give all the proceeds to Vanguard’s victims to rebuild their shattered lives.
Claire will get her first real job. CB: “You want fries with that?”
Justice served.
I don’t think a class action lawsuit would work, each individual’s situation is too unique for a class to be approved.
Frank, congrats on seeing your brave and tireless work rewarded. That said, a “congrats” is not nearly enough. As relieved as I am about the KAR guilty verdict, I’m greedy for more tangible justice for you and the many others who have been harmed by these people.
While many women clearly suffered emotional and physical torture for which there is no true remedy, the torture that the NXIVM litigation machine subjected so many to is equally despicable.
The American civil litigation system is flawed in the sense that anyone can file a civil suit against anyone. In most cases, there is no way for the accused party to recover their attorney’s fees unless they can prove that the lawsuit was “frivolous.” While we know that most of the lawsuits these people filed were frivolous, the legal standard to prove “frivolous” is often very difficult.
I don’t think any of us can imagine the financial strain and emotional stress that many people were put through in connection with all of the baseless and abusive lawsuits that were filed by these vicious and vindictive people. It seems to me that there has to be some justice for all of those individuals who spent thousands and thousands of dollars to defend these baseless lawsuits.
In terms of what would constitute “justice” for these victims, I would like to think that civil and criminal penalties are warranted. In terms of the civil penalties, I’m glad that the government seized money and property from these goons. But that money doesn’t go to compensate the victims – it goes into the government’s coffers.
The litigation victims should have some remedy to recover the money they spent defending these harassing lawsuits.
Likewise, with regard to criminal penalties, I hope that some justice will be served at sentencing for Clare et al. Many of you have commented that The Bronfman Money will keep Clare from a long prison sentence. If that turns out to be true, it will be a travesty. (Note: Fingers crossed that the EDNY has not be bribed and beholden to Bronfman et al).
As for who bears primary responsibility for terrorizing people like Frank and Joe, I don’t know the answer to that but we know that the Bronfman money financed it. I’m sure there were others at the helm who aggressively participated. I hope that the culprits will be punished both with fines to compensate the victims AND with substantial jail sentences.
Barbara Bouchey is quoted as saying “There is goodness in him but there’s this dark side”.
I rarely swear BUT…..Barb, SHUT THE FUCK UP!
You are either delusional, still under his thrall or positioning yourself, as you have been doing all along, and as I keep pointing out openly to one and all, to resurrect the “best” of NXIVM as you call it.
So shut the fuck up and disappear into the vast sea of humanity.
No one trusts you. We don’t want you.
Or Nancy, Lauren, Clare and so on.
We want the stink of NXIVM, DOS, ESP, etc, anything and anyone to just go away and stay away.
The people in Clifton Park, Halfmoon, Waterford, and Colonie deserve better.
“The people in Clifton Park, Halfmoon, Waterford, and Colonie deserve better.”
The people of the Albany area deserve both the NDNY and the New York State government prosecuting ALL of the NXIVM criminals.
Most of the NXIVM crimes occurred near Albany, not Brooklyn.
Albany is the proper venue for a mass trial of the whole NXIVM gang.
Barbara:
“I’ve had people killed because of my beliefs.”
Those are Raniere’s own words, spoken on camera.
Where is the fabled goodness that none of us can see?
Where is the fabled goodness that only you can see.
Barbara should speak with Rhiannon, Toni Natalie, and Heidi Hutchinson regarding the good that’s in Keith Raniere.
Wouldn’t do a bit of good.
Barb is making the rounds. Crime Von, TU event, tv interviews, wherever she can grab the mic and opine how what a good bf Keith was and how there is good in Keith and in NXIVM. The latter implying she, Barb, wants to bring the best of NXIVM to us.
Note how she hogged the mic after the verdict.
Attention whore much?
You never see Catherine Oxenberg in her company or Toni Natale. Yet you see Toni and Catherine walking, side by side.
Barb is out for Barb and sees dollar signs out of this.
Sadly you are right G.
She is a lost cause.
Come on, niceguy. That’s probably bullshit. And if it’s not, neither you or I know enough to make that statement.
Let the Gs and Shadows of the comment section play expert on things they’re not experts on.
I wish we had a Truman Capote to really develop the whole story in a document to make the country understand the evil that was done here, The deception against heiress Clare Bronfman and sister is something we all need to learn from. Hopefully, the connection with Gillibrand, Schummer and Clinton will start to be made clear too.
i firmly believe Frank Parlato is that Truman Capote – his book (surely there’ll be a book?) will be the ‘In Cold Blood’ of our times!
So all you nxivm apologists can kiss Frank Parlato’s ass!!! The jury aka We The People, has shown you just how far from the ethical consensus you had strayed!!!
God Bless you Frank, you absolute G, you Hero!!! I’d love to know how the glorious defence team reacted to the news as well as the stalwarts: Toni, Catherine, Susan and Mark – what a moment!!!
Thank you Judge Garaufis for presiding over what was a faultlessly humane process for the witnesses. May the wheels of justice continue to grind until all the perpetrators are dust. RESULT!!!!
I wonder what color his face will turn when they start busting his cheeks. You just know he’s going to get his wig split
Because Raniere is a psychopath, he is incapable of remorse and will never accept responsibility for his crimes, despite what his lawyers may script for him at his sentencing. Also, it is highly unlikely that he will commit suicide. It is equally unlikely, however, that he will long survive in prison, where convicts of his ilk are regarded as the lowest of lowlifes deserving of torture and death. I predict he will be killed after a period of unmerciful torture at the hands of his colleagues in crime. Frank can then retire with all our undying thanks.
Frank isn’t the retiring type.
He may be offed by the big names associated with his criminal enterprise.
Frank says: [Based on reports from Dianne Lipson and others in the courtroom today]
WTF?
Frank spends YEARS of his life exposing Raniere, yet he can’t even attend court for the final VERDICT?
What a loser.
What an asshole.
Frank has pretty much just ruined his reputation as a journalist.
Both Frank and Heidi should have been front and center at the verdict.
Yet I’m guessing that both of those turds lacked the courage to face Keith up close and personal.
Frank needs to turn over the keys to his blog to somebody like Claviger, since at least Claviger has some balls.
Frank should be ashamed of his lack of presence at the trial.
Frank was at the trial, just not yesterday. Raniere saw him there, that’s the most important thing. Nobody knew how long the jury would be deliberating, it could have been several days.
Oh Cock!
is this your own special way of expressing your delight? Hahaha..:)
Judge – “Keith Raniere, you are sentenced to cock in prison! May God have mercy on your asshole!”
The Bronfman crime family DNA certainly showed up in Clare and Sara.
Shocking Barbara Bouchey news!!!!!
The following quote is taken from today’s Time Union News Paper website:
“A jubilant Barbara Bouchey, a NXIVM defector, in the hallway outside the courtroom following verdict:
“Oh my God! Oh my God! That’s amazing”
Bouchey, addressing one of Raniere’s lawyers, Marc Agnifilo:
“There is goodness in him. But there’s this dark side that’s crazy ( TimesUnion).”
I personally am going to try and not comment on anything Barbara Bouchey or her friends post. Barbara, in my opinion, is clearly not in the right frame of mind. I could not believe what I was reading. I was flummoxed.
Here is the link:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.timesunion.com/news/amp/In-their-words-Reaction-to-NXIVM-founder-14020995.php
What goodness?
That same “goodness” is true with BB, too.
He will enjoy a few rounds of butthole bingo before he suicides himself
Lol, I never read it like that butthole bingo!! That’s too funny!
“before he suicides himself”
Raniere is more likely to be suicided by people who want to keep his mouth shut.
Can I go visit him in MDC and tell him what shit he is? Because wow I would love to.
He has to put you on his “Visitors List” in order for you to do that. We’ll be publishing ways for folks to send Raniere such requests in the near future.
Yes! I will definitely be looking out for that. You guys are fantastic.
I wonder if he had thought to go to Fiji? Or if now he’s kicking himself for not. Smartest man on the planet.
Keith has always made his own reality. His thoughts are not connected with the world audience which clearly spoke up today.
Goodnight, prisoner 57005-177……
….And sweet dreams. 😉
Well done Frank!
Thank you thank you so much Frank. Any other words are trite. God Bless you
What a Fall from Grace!
In 2016 Raniere had an estimated 400 supporters attending his Vanguard Week Celebration/Orgy.
From now on he will be happy to get solitary confinement.
But it will still be a struggle to wipe out NXIVM and other cults.
America is still plagued with Scientology.
And Buzzfeed has just published a series of stories about self-help Guru Tony Robbins abusing his followers.
Tony Robbins Punishes Followers By Making Them Drink Unidentified Brown Liquid “Designed To Have A Lasting Effect”
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/janebradley/tony-robbins-punishes-followers-by-making-them-drink
Excellent yet disturbing post Shadowstate,
I honestly had no idea Tony Robbins is such a sadistic bastard.
I knew he pedaled self-improvement Dale Carnigie type stuff, but I did not know he is cult like. Nuts.
Thanks for posting.
If this Buzzfeed story is correct Robbins should be investigated just like Raniere.
Forcing people to drink a mysterious brown liquid that makes them sick!
And Robbins is courted by important politicians like Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.
Not any more: https://nypost.com/2019/06/19/tony-robbins-accused-of-groping-harassing-more-women/
Shadow, check out this golden nugget:
https://www.tampabay.com/scientology/lawsuit-accuses-scientology-david-miscavage-of-child-abuse-human-trafficking-libel-20190619/?comments
Now that we’ve seen inside a cult through details of Raniere’s techniques of manipulation and control, including the use of humiliation and degradation, these descriptions of Robbins’ practices and behavior are disturbingly suggestive of a familiar pattern.
I knew a couple of young women who had worked from Robbins about 30 years ago, and who described being taken advantage of in an environment of low pay pay, overwork and poor treatment, that seemed inconsistent with a supposed message of empowerment and better relationships, so it doesn’t surprise me to hear that he may have taken the hypocritical exploitation further:
“some former female fans and staffers have accused him of sexual misconduct”
And then there’s the typical angle of getting followers to work for free as a supposed “privilege” to be in attendance and part of the endeavor (similar to the rationale for low pay, above), even though the events and courses are generating large profits:
“Glen Lechtanski, who was a registered emergency nurse during more than a decade spent volunteering for Robbins, including as director of medical operations for his live events, said he too had witnessed participants getting sick after being pressured into drinking “health” shots.”
Human empathy makes me a feel a bit of pity for the little guy.
But he made his own bed with his own free will. That is the trust given to humans who are often unjust and arrogant, wronging firstly their own selves.
Anon 8:11, your empathy is laudable. However, please consider: Many were grievously hurt – life savings stolen, careers ruined, identities crushed, sisters lost, self esteem decimated, and children aborted, abandoned, or disowned. Not to mention those who were falsely accused, arrested, sued, and imprisoned. TO BE CLEAR, this was not simply about a guy who got a lot of voluntary sex and money from willing people.
From another article: “According to him, it’s his former ‘bitches and whores’…who are causing all his problems. He talks constantly about being betrayed – and how none of this would have happened if he had been allowed to be out on bail before the trial started.”
deeply repented i see ; 0 {damn biotches!!}
I feel pity only because of the lamentable description given in the article and how I would feel if it applied to me. I only feel it because I was never directly wronged and significantly emotionally impacted so it is a third person empathy perspective. I likely would feel different if I was a direct victim of some great evil he committed against me.
I do not condone the wrongs he perpetrated on his victims and I feel bad for their suffering too.
I get it, Anonymous. I feel the same way. I’m glad about the verdict, but I don’t like to imagine anyone going to jail. I would have failed at those fright experiments for sure! I feel way too much empathy.
Had Keith been out on bail, I would guess there would be more “suicides”, Bronfman money used to coerce those who are buyable, a midnight flight to Fiji and more.
It is the more I shudder at.
Lives have been destroyed, many will never recover what they lost. Besides, wherever they go they will always be suspect. The neighbor next door, the clerk at the store, every look and whisper they will assume is about them.
Parents will hold their children close when they are spied.
Clare will have her money to shield her.
Sara may never return to the USA. She also has her inherited millions to live off.
Throughout history, these names will be known for their crimes.
Remember….your name lives after you.
So much for that recommitment ceremony.
I wanna hear from the true believers who still idolize Vanguard.
I took a single 5 day seminar at ESP when it first started up around early1999. There were no Bronfrmans, no Mexi-Nexiians, no sashes, no celebrities and no publicity about it. Apparently, it was in its infant stages.
I was never a follower and I completely forgot about ESP / Nxivm till it hit the news last year. Nonetheless, the trial and verdict has an impact on me. I find it confusing as I examine my own ideas, my idealism and my goals. I wonder what attracted me to ESP to begin with? I detest how Raniere lied, betrayed and hurt people.
Mostly, I question myself and I find the whole thing confusing. Yikes, am I crazy like him? I hope not.
What did you think of the seminar up until the point you heard about Raniere being arrested?
I would not worry. At that time, they were peddling self improvement / awareness classes – nothing wrong with that, right? In 1999 they had not yet veered off into mind control, collateral, extortion and all the rest.
Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Eastern District of New York
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Jury Finds Nxivm Leader Keith Raniere Guilty of All Counts
Raniere and His Co-Conspirators Operated a Racketeering Enterprise Victimizing Women Through Sex Trafficking and Other Crimes
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/jury-finds-nxivm-leader-keith-raniere-guilty-all-counts
“Nxivm’s so called self-help programs did anything but help the women they professed to empower,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney. “What’s been proven today is that Keith Raniere preyed on the vulnerabilities of his many female victims, sold them lies and other falsehoods, and committed horrifying acts of coercion. This guilty verdict is a welcome end to a case that highlighted the many avenues of criminal activity pursued by a man whose intentions were deplorable beyond belief.”
And that sums it up perfectly!
I am usually very compassionate. The Bible tells me to be compassionate. It is hard to do, sometimes. “Keith looked a little down, depressed. Maybe even scared.”
He gotta be scared someones gonna off him when no one is looking
Now is the time to think about poor Keith. Look on the bright side, our tax dollars will go towards his creature comforts in prison. Once again, “things just appear”. Anyway, for how muck this little bastard fucked around with people’s heads for his own benefit and amusement, I would be happy to foot the bill to keep his sorry ass behind bars for the rest of his life. Live long Keith! Live Long! You’ve just enrolled yourself in “Humanities 101” in the U.S. penitentiary system.
You couldn’t afford to keep him behind bars for the rest of his life, unless it is very short: https://www.google.com/search?ei=5fEKXdRFidixBdqXusgL&q=average+cost+of+federal+inmate&oq=cost+of+federal+inmate&gs_l=psy-ab.1.1.0j0i22i30l4.1670500.1674922..1680592…0.0..1.134.1852.20j2……0….1..gws-wiz…….0i71j0i131j35i39j0i67j0i10.Gf18wjgibn8
Between Bronfman’s penalties, and any assets Raniere himself may have that can be seized or assessed, I think that at least the taxpayers won’t really be carrying the cost of his incarceration. Whatever Cafritz left Raniere will almost certainly go to the government, and it she left him income from a trust even that might be tapped during the time he’s incarcerated.
That money will likely go to bonuses, hiring more FBI/DOJ people, buying equipment, etc. While every little bit helps, it will not be channeled towards the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
What about the sentence?
It will be determined on September 25 and it will be very long, assuming he lives that long.
September
Sentencing will be September 25, 2019. He faces life in prison.