This is Part #8 of the Alleged FBI Tampering series.
You can find links to the other reports at the bottom of this post.
The question is not whether Keith Raniere is good or evil. Most readers have the answer. The question before us is whether the FBI played by the rules.
On February 19, 2019, the FBI found 22 photos of 15-year-old Camila on a hard drive.
The FBI had seized that hard drive almost a year earlier during a raid of Keith Raniere’s townhouse in Half Moon, New York, on March 27, 2018.
The camera was under the desk and hard drive on a shelf.
The discovery of the photos on the hard drive changed the case. It provided the prosecution with its first and only non-adult victim.
The FBI discovered the child porn accidentally. It was a few weeks before the trial. The photos’ metadata dates to 2005, when Camila was 15. This was evidence of possession of child porn.
Exploitation of a child charges required further proof. That Raniere took the pictures. For this, a Canon camera and camera card, also seized during the raid, were the main evidence.
The Government’s narrative regarding alleged contraband found on a “backup” drive.
The FBI did not disclose the camera card until just before the trial.
The camera card did not contain any of the photos of Camila. But the camera card contained photo files found on the hard drive.
They were in the same folder as Camila’s photos. The folder was called “Studies.”
The number of photos on the camera card that matched files on the hard drive seemed to have changed.
The trial began with an exhibit of an FBI report that showed four files on the camera card that matched files on the hard drive.
During trial, this exhibit was replaced with a new FBI report. The new report showed that there were 37 files on the camera card matching files on the hard drive.
Camera card
Raniere’s forensic expert, Dr. J. Richard Kiper, explains the differences between the two FBI reports.
Dr. Kiper wrote:
The FBI completed two forensic examinations and generated two
different reports on the same evidence: A compact flash (CF) card found in a digital camera case.
The Government claimed digital photographs from this CF Card were eventually backed up to a Western Digital hard disk drive (WD HDD), which also contained alleged child pornography.
The First Camera Card Report
Figure 1 illustrates the initial relationship between files on the CF [camera] card and the alleged “backup” of those files contained in the WD HDD [hard drive]. According to the FBI’s report on 04/11/2019, four photographs were reported as common to both devices.
Kiper continues:
Both forensic reports [of the hard drive and the camera card] were generated on the same day, April 11, 2019.
The CF Card report was created by FBI Forensic Examiner Stephen Flatley, who kept the CF Card until June 7, 2022.
FBI Forensic Examiner Brian Booth created the WD HDD [hard drive] report using a forensic copy made by his trainee.
Only four photos, named IMG_0180-183, are common to both the hard drive and the camera card’s forensic reports.
At this time, no other files on the CF Card report could be shown to be “backed up” to the WD HDD.
The FBI made their first report of the camera card on April 11, 2019. This was just shy of a month before trial started. The trial started May 7, 2019.
The four photos common to the hard drive and the camera card in the FBI’s first report of the camera card are #180-183. The photos are of Angel, a friend of Raniere’s.
Near the end of the trial, on June 11, the FBI made a second forensic report of the camera card.
The Second Forensic Report
Kiper explained.
As documented in the Chain of Custody, FBI Special Agent Christopher Mills delivered the CF Card in an unsealed bag to FE Booth on June 10, 2019, during the last week of trial and more than 14 months after the search team had collected it.
In Figure 2, the introduction of new files to the FBI’s June 11, 2019 “replacement” forensic report creates an obviously stronger relationship between the devices.
In all, 37 photos with filenames matching those on the WD HDD were added to the June 11, 2019 report in small, contiguous groups of files.
Unfortunately – or perhaps, conveniently – none of the new files were viewable as photographs in the second report. As a result, none of the new files could be verified visually or forensically against their namesakes on the WD HDD report.
None of the new files appearing on the June 11, 2019 report (shaded green) was viewable in the report.
No explanation was provided for the appearance of the new files or why they were unviewable.
All the previous CF Card files (in white) are viewable in both CF Card reports.
The alleged contraband [Camila’s] photos, IMG_0150-163 and IMG_0184-191, appear in neither of the CF Card reports.
If the government’s narrative was correct, [based on the newly discovered files in the second report] then one would reasonably expect some remnants of these photos to have been included on the FBI’s reports.
The FBI never provided an explanation for the appearance of new photos on the June 11, 2019 report, or why they were the only
photos on the CF card that were not viewable in the report….
A plausible explanation is that someone with physical control of the CF Card:
- Recognized the weak relationship between the photos reported on the April 11, 2019 CF Card report and those reported as “backup” files on the WD HDD, including alleged contraband.
- Examined the file listing of the WD HDD and chose a convenient range based on filenames (IMG_0081-100) rather than their saved folders.
- Created the appearance (through file and metadata manipulation) that those files had been discovered on the CF Card as reported on the June 11, 2019 report
- Botched the file creation and deletion of the new files, rendering them unviewable in the June 11, 2019 report.
The modified date/time stamps between the new files in the June 11, 2019 report and their namesakes on the WD HDD did match.
However… such metadata is easily changed, and in this case it was
obviously manipulated, enhancing the CF Card – WD HDD relationship required by the Government’s narrative.
Kiper Conclusion:
The Raniere defense team was provided the FBI’s forensic report of the CF Card generated on April 11, 2019 and then the second “replacement” report, generated on June 11, 2019 and contained 37 additional files.
Frank Reply:
Kiper mentions, in addition to the appearance of new files on a second CF Card forensic report, that the camera card was modified on September 19, 2018, while in FBI custody.
The FBI went on the original device and did not use a write blocker as required by FBI policy. When Booth was asked at trial who made the unauthorized access of the camera card, he did not know.
Kiper also mentions that an FBI agent delivered the camera card to Booth in an unsealed cellophane bag just two days before FE Booth took the stand.
Kiper:
FBI policy requires the securing and sealing of evidence, and employees may be disciplined if they fail to do so. In my experience with the FBI, I never received unsealed evidence other than in emergency situations.
The information above, by itself, may mean nothing.
So the FBI chose lost custody of the camera card and did not know who accessed it. Or that they handed the camera card in an unsealed bag so the chain of custody was broken.
And they did a second report on the camera card, just before the FBI put on its witnesses on the digital evidence. And so they found 37 new files.
If there were no other inconsistencies, one might write this off to “the FBI would not cheat. They had their man.”
But there are other inconsistencies. And we will get to them.
But let’s face it, this is an inconsistency. Two reports, done on the same device, with staggeringly different results.
I have not mentioned that FBI Forensic Examiner Booth violated FBI rules by making two forensic reports off the same original digital device without proper authority.
Kiper served as an FBI Special Agent for 20 years, from 1999 to 2019. In the FBI, he served as a case agent, a supervisor, a unit chief, a forensic examiner, a trainer of forensic examiners, and a
trainer of trainers of forensic examiners.
That means he trained people like Forensic Examiners Booth and Flatley.
He says making two reports from the same digital evidence is an FBI violation, unless there is top level approval.
Kiper says
The FBI Digital Evidence Policy Guide, Section 3.3.11.2 states, “Unless approved by the AD, OTD as outlined below, examinations are not conducted on any evidence that has been previously subjected to the same type of technical examination (hereinafter referred to as a ‘re-examination.’)”
One of the reasons for this policy is to “[e]nsure that the integrity of the evidence is maintained.”
During the trial, FE Booth failed to disclose that his actions constituted a prohibited re-examination of digital evidence.
According to FE Booth’s notes, FBI special agent Michael Lever requested FE Booth “process” the camera and the CF card because FE Flatley “would be overseas during trial.”
But Flatley was not overseas during the trial.
According to the Chain of Custody, FE Flatley relinquished custody of the CF card to FBI Special Agent McGinnis on June 07, 2019, so he was not yet “overseas.”
A month into trial, Flately could have testified?
FE Flatley was available to testify to his examination of the CF card, to
include the forensic report he generated on April 11, 2019, at any time during the preceding four weeks of trial, which began on May 7, 2019. There was no legitimate need to re-examine the CF card and create a second report.
If FE Flatley was available to relinquish custody of the physical CF card on June 7, 2019, then he was also available to provide FE Booth with the forensic copy of the CF card he created.
FE Booth should have used the existing forensic copy to generate a new report, if needed, rather than create his own forensic copy.
By creating a new forensic copy of the CF card, Booth conducted a “re-examination” – a duplication of all the technical steps that FE Flatley had already completed.
CART policy strictly prohibits such re-examinations, unless approved by the executive management of the FBI Operational Technology Division.
I could not find a record of such an approval. Instead, according to his notes, FE Booth only obtained approval from his acting supervisor Trenton Schmatz to proceed with the re-examination.
It reminds me of an old song, “How do files suddenly appear; every time the FBI is near?”
Of course, none of this means Raniere is innocent. The question is not whether Raniere abused Camila. Most readers have their own opinion.
The question is whether the FBI broke the law or played by the rules.
Honestly… if he gets a new trial he will be convicted again, but it would be interesting to see these dead enders as witnesses being confronted.
At this time anyone who’s to be chosen as a juror saw / read / heard everything about the cult and has an opinion about it.
On the other side, now that secrecy is no longer at their side and their lies are well spread around, I wonder how DOs would survive in a new era where everybody linked to KR will be considered a starving sexual cult slave with lots of pubic hair. How far could they go after all this?
To bring someone from Mexico or Canada would be very complicated with all eyes on them. CB must stay away from KR after her jail time, and the possibility to sell Keith as a genius who jerks off a blue light, the bringer of the rain, the savior of an ethical world is very small now. People are more inclined to roll their eyes and vomit than to clap hands and bow for Keith.
When do Nicki Clyne, Michele Hatchette, Danielle Roberts and Linda Chung start puking? Can we wait for that?
Never happening! They sucked-off swallowed his spew.
If that doesn’t make you puke nothing well!!!!!
Seems smelly and the smelliest guy of all is this Aristotle guy. If he ain’t FBI he’s their best apologist.
Say I receive two reports, one on May 7 and the other one just over a month later on June 11. The second report is more detailed, containing more information.
The conclusion I must draw is that the data on the second report is faked??
In a pig’s eye.
This is a perfectly normal thing to have happen. Only someone predisposed to thinking the FBI cheated would find this suspicious.
Raniere’s defense team didn’t find it suspicious. Neither did Raniere himself. Keep in mind that both reports were introduced in open court.
Hardly funny business. This wasn’t some clandestine move.
So Chakravorty and the “expert” he paid think this stuff is suspicious. So what? They’re grabbing at straws.
Their claim is silly. Fortunately it is also futile.
Eight articles so far, and still not a shred of evidence to back up Team Raniere’s claims.
Kiper –“In this case, however, the difference between the two FTK reports cannot be attributed to the use of a different tool, because both examiners used the same tool and version number: AccessData Forensic Toolkit, Version 6.3.1.26.”
CIA
@CIA
For 75 years…
DUTY. COMMITMENT. MISSION. Since 1947
#CIA75 #HappyBirthday
https://twitter.com/CIA/status/1571453985407619073/photo/1
With baited breath I await the civil case. 😉
Whatever Alanzo!
BTW: F. Lee Bailey was disbarred.
The only reason for the government to ‘fabricate’ a 2nd CF report (with phony evidence added) — according to Kiper — is to create a ‘stronger relationship’ between the camera card and the hard drive.
The problem is… Your article admits that the 2nd CF report (the one you claim is fabricated with bogus data) contains ZERO images of Camila —– which means the 2nd CF report really doesn’t do ANYTHING that the original report couldn’t do all by itself.
Whether it’s 4 photos, 37 photos, or 100 photos of other women on the camera card —- the ‘relationship’ between the 2 devices is still created.
It’s basically like a fingerprint. You only need 1 fingerprint on the cookie jar to know if little Mikey’s been eating cookies.
Hint: If the FBI were REALLY trying to cook-up phony evidence to leave no doubt —- they’d have added Camila’s photos to the 2nd CF report and to the camera card using nefarious means.
But… I seriously doubt that any FBI agent would risk their career, pension and freedom —- just to generate such a worthless 2nd CF report (a report which doesn’t do anything that the 1st report cannot do all by itself).
Having said that… I do agree that her age cannot be proven by EXIF data (since there’s no way to know if Keith set the time/date correctly during that earlier time period).
Thus, I agree that her testimony should be required in a 2nd trial — where she can be cross-examined..
On that issue, I agree with you. Keith probably deserves a 2nd trial.
A 2nd trial? No. The defense had every opportunity to cast doubt on the reliability of the EXIF data at trial — in fact, they did get Booth to admit its uncertainty. The jury didn’t buy it because of reinforcing behavior that was supported by other tangible evidence and witness testimony. Thus, there is nothing procedurally improper here to appeal that warrants another trial.
All the newly found pictures in the second report were found in the studies folder on the hard drive.
The studies folder had the supposed images of Camila, If the photos from the camera card in the second report were stored in the same studies folder on the hard drive where Camila photos were stored, then the relationship is stronger.
How do you explain the difference between the two reports?
Dead Enders would say it was suspicious if both reports were exactly the same.
Employ enough Claire Bronfman paid experts (and that word is being used somewhat ironically here) and enough lawyers and those employees of the defendant will continue to try to cast aspersions and doubt on every single element, witness and all of the (already agreed upon for admission in the trial by both sides of the court case) evidence.
Unfortunately for Keith, the time to do all of that protesting was before the first trial and that time has passed.
But as long as someone is paying the laeyers, PR machine and “experts” to do so – there will be people willing to spend Claire’s money and file motions and drum up press and whatever else they can do to keep that income stream going.
It doesn’t mean anything in terms of Keith ever getting a new trial or ever getting out of prison.
That’s a fair point.
Now I may be swaying back towards Suneel’s camp.
Frank needs to do a better job of pointing out such things, in detail, and explaining how important they are.
Frank also need to explain what the fuck it means that the new photos “were not available to view as photographs”.
Are you saying that the photos don’t exist as photographs?
If that’s true, how did the FBI’s software scoop up the remnants of the metadata of such photos, if the entire rest of the files were not present?
That would be a huge stroke of luck for the FBI.
Also, you need to highlight certain points better (for assholes like Aristotle’s Turd) to explain that the 2nd report wasn’t merely generated a month later —– it was fucking generated while the trial was underway.
Yes, you made that point. But you didn’t fucking highlight it good enough.
You need to highlight why the defense had no time to hire a team of experts to analyze that new report —– and why they had no realistic possibility of asking for a multi-month continuance at that late stage, to hire a team of experts.
The government was playing dirty.
If you made these points stronger, then assholes like Aristotle’s Turd wouldn’t have a platform to spew his nonsense that the government acted like angels.
I agree about the timeline of 2nd set of photographs AND the beginning of the trial that FR should Hammer that home, @10:27 PM.
I will not comment on this. Raniere’s appeal is pending. Anything that needs to be decided will be decided in court and not by opinion articles on a blog.
You just commented on this.
Rumor has it Alonzo is such a pussy…..
….He’s gotta womb.
Alanzo gave me a message for you. He’s going out of town for a few days. Save some money on flowers.
Even if they throw out the counts related to Camila and under age sexual conduct, he was found guilty of plenty more.
So he gets out in 75 years!
Viva Executive Success!!
In my opinion, I believe the kiddie porn and trafficking of Nicole should be thrown out.
What would his sentence be then?
Just curious..
Frank Report is a must on my reading list.
Looking more and more like that old song quote, in my opinion.
The conduct of Booth warrants a new trial. What’s the point of having FBI rules and protocols if those on power are going to blatantly violate them without explanation or just cause? New trial warranted. He’ll still be found guilty but put him behind bars without cheating.
Do you truly believe if Keith got a second trial and he’s found guilty again Keith is just going to let it go?
Don’t you think that every defendant with money then would just continue to have trials over and over and over and over and over again and every time pick apart something that they deem as nefarious or a tiny mistake that should throw out the whole conviction? That’s not how it works.
It’s also unfair to people who do not have unlimited funds to appeal for the rest of their lives. Which is most of the population.
FBI agents will literally take stuff from a murder scene and throw it in a cardboard box in a trunk. If you think that Keith is going to get a retrial off of something that is not even biological material being in a container that is not sealed to your liking oh dear you are crazy
What was the question?
By the way, are you aware that Nice Guy revealed you have a black mother and a white father, and were born out of wedlock? And this was during a time [1940s] when unwed mothers and biracial children were not accepted in society.
I understand your fervor for racial equality.
Dont get this response, not the original anon, just don’t get it?
It was meant for Patriot God, a fine older man of biracial parents who adopted the Jewish faith of his maternal grandmother.
“What was the question?”
“By the way, are you aware that Nice Guy revealed you have a black mother and a white father, and were born out of wedlock? And this was during a time [1940s] when unwed mothers and biracial children were not accepted in society.”
“I understand your fervor for racial equality.”
Hey Frank the hypocritical piece of shit! This is completely irrelevant made up garbage in regards to this the post! So why aren’t you censoring yourself like you do to patriot god when you claim that he does this?!
Why are you picking a random fight with him when he isn’t even on here or said a word to you?!
Why are you such hypocritical piece of shit?!
When will you ever deal straight?!
“What was the question?”
“By the way, are you aware that Nice Guy revealed you have a black mother and a white father, and were born out of wedlock? And this was during a time [1940s] when unwed mothers and biracial children were not accepted in society.”
“I understand your fervor for racial equality.”
Hey Frank the hypocritical piece of shit! This is completely irrelevant made up garbage in regards to this the post! So why aren’t you censoring yourself like you do to patriot god when you claim that he does this?!
Why are you picking a random fight with him when he isn’t even on here or said a word to you?!
Why are you such hypocritical piece of shit?!
When will you ever deal straight?!
“What was the question?”
“By the way, are you aware that Nice Guy revealed you have a black mother and a white father, and were born out of wedlock? And this was during a time [1940s] when unwed mothers and biracial children were not accepted in society.”
“I understand your fervor for racial equality.”
“It was meant for Patriot God, a fine older man of biracial parents who adopted the Jewish faith of his maternal grandmother.”
Dear Ginzo,
🤦🏻♂️ I see that your genetic inferiority has gotten the best of you again and you are telling nigger-rigged stories for attention again while you shit in your intellectual diapers and roll around in it aren’t you?
You poor thing! Life must be hard when you have to live in a made up fantasy world of your own design just to cope with the cruel fate of being born into such a detestable species as yours!
Your brain is malfunctioning again! Do you need to put be down yet? You also better stop censoring me and taking away my free speech! We’ve been through this already!
Stop being a piece of shit and post up my comments on the other article before I beat the guido nigger out of you! I’m getting really sick and tired of your disrespect to this country and it’s glorious creeds!
“Address what? What comment do you have to make about this story of alleged FBI tampering?”
Let me tell you what I want you to fucking address! Open your ears up really well and focus like a laser beam and don’t be an evasive jackass to these critical questions that you are obligated to held accountable by the public for under the political philosophy of this country!
I’m going to write numbered questions. In your reply, I want you to answer each question in correlation to its number. I’m going to give you an example so that your brain can get it!
Example:
1. My question?
2. My question?
3. My question?
Example Of Proper Reply From Frank [In Brackets]:
1. My question? [Frank’s Answer]
2. My question? [Frank’s Answer]
3. My question? [Frank’s Answer]
Ok you ready? Here’s the real questions!
1. Why do you claim to support free speech while simultaneously and hypocritically trying to modify it?!
2. You’ve been told a thousand fucking times over by numerous people that no matter how “long”, “irrelevant”, or “offensive” the comment is, free speech MEANS *FREE SPEECH*! There will NEVER be a condition or subjective objection on your part (or anybody else’s) on the content on anybody’s speech that will ever warrant you give you right to withhold or edit their free speech! So by doing so at any time for any reason, you are rebelling against the U.S. Constitution that you claim to “strongly support”! So when are you actually going to actually pick a side be honest to the public about it and stop playing games?! Are you pro U.S. Constitution on how it is supposed to be interpreted or are you going to modify the U.S. Constitution (like you do on your website with everything else) and be an enemy to it?!
3. Why is that when other people outside of patriot god, constantly post up random videos, comments, or anything else outside of the context of the article, you don’t censor them but only patriot god?! Countess people always post up random and off topic shit on your comments weekly if not daily and you don’t ever bat an eye! So why do you have a double standard on patriot god vs everybody else and keep playing this game of “off topic” when you don’t give a shit about anybody who does it and are more than willing to post their comments?!
Then they wld say the laws are unfair etc etc etc the Bop, the judge, the jury, their lawyers, the guard, the driver of the bus and everyone in between are corrupt since to blame the world is way easier than to see the judo master’s crimes.
Surely not the bus driver! Dude’s just doing his job – working hard to put food on the family table and a couple of brews in the fridge for later. Please leave him out of it… although, I bet he’s better at judo than the “master” himself.
Continuing my time line, based on Frank’s articles. My thoughts on this article at the end:
2002: Family with three sisters Mariana (around 19), Daniela (around 16 at time), and Camila (around 13) move 12 Wilton Court
? – 2005: 3 Flintlock is Raniere’s primary residence
2003: Mariana, age 20, begins relationship with Raniere. Moves into 3 Flintlock, living with Raniere and 3 other women
2003: Daniela, age 17, begins relationship with then 43 year old Raniere.
2003: Daniela, age 17, begins working with Raniere at 3 Flintlock. Testified oral sex was “common occurrence” at the home. Unclear if still underage at time was performing oral sex.
2003: November, 2: Daniela, age 18, first penetrative sex with Raniere, day after she turns 18 on November 1.
2004, January: 8 Hale purchased by NXIVM
2005: 8 Hale becomes Raniere’s primary residence
2005, March 3: Daniela, age 19, sends Raniere 70 page email with catalog of his books, DVDs and CDs that she inventoried as moved them from 3 Flintlock to 8 Hale
2005: Daniela, age 19, works at 8 Hale. Responsible for Raniere’s computers and backup of files along with creating book reports for Raniere. Continues relationship with Raniere at 8 Hale.
2005, September 17 or 18: Camila, age 15, allegedly begins sexual relationship with Raniere, age 46, at 8 Hale based on an email sent possibly marking the occasion in 2008 and a Whatsapp conversation in 2015.
2005, December 4: Another possible date of relationship with Camila. Based on comment sent by Raniere to Camila in Whatapp marking the occasion in 2014.
2005, October 17: Earliest EXIF date from a nude photo.
2005, October 19: Nine nude photos of Daniela, age 19, taken based on EXIF data. Daniela testified nude photos taken in 2005 at 3 Flintlock, did not know exact dates.
2005, November 2: Fourteen alleged pictures of Camila, age 15, based on metadata and EXIF data. Photos taken at 8 Hale.
2005, November 24: Eight alleged pictures of Camila, age 15, taken based on metadata and EXIF data. Photos taken at 8 Hale.
2005, December 30: Latest EXIF date from nude photos.
2006, March-April: Another indication of a relationship between Raniere and Camila, age 16. Based on Whatsapp conversation in October 2014.
2006: Raniere ends relationship with Daniela for kissing another man. Raniere was in sexual relationship with around 20 women at the time.
2006, July: An entry in Camila’s diary indicates sex with a “teacher”. Raniere specifically not named. At this time New York age of consent is 16. Diary not used at trial nor authenticated by Camila who did not testify.
2006-2009: Daniela continued to work at 8 Hale when Raniere not there. She digitized and backuped his music collection.
2007, January 9: Camila, age 16, has appendectomy that leaves a scar on her lower abdomen.
2008, Feburary 21: Camila, age 18 and 11 months, sent email citing “Full moon is tomorrow and that would make it 30 full moons that we’ve been together. Smiley face.” 30 full moons back would be about September 17. DOJ later interprets this to mean this is first time Camila and Raniere had sex. This is not confirmed during trial as Camila did not testify. She does verifies a version of this at sentencing.
2009-2012: Daniela, age 24, on Raniere’s orders to “make amends” for wanting to date other, is jailed for 23 months in her family’s main bedroom (father sleeps on living room couch). Little human contact as food is left outside door. Her mother also does a multi-month voluntary exile for her daughter’s “ethical breach”.
2011, ~July: Camila, age 21, moves into 120 Victory Way near 3 Flintlock to avoid having to sneak into 8 Hale to see Raniere.
2012, February: Daniela leaves her family jail, tries to confront Raniere but fails. Father forces her to move to Mérida, Mexico with $200 and no ID.
2012: Pictures and whiteboard of Raniere at work, shows external hard drives and DVD player on a shelf for anyone to access
2014: 8 Hale used as storage when Raniere moves to another home
2014, February 1: Whatsapp conversation between Camila, 24, and Raniere after Camila, 25, texted a photo. Camila: Guard these pics, okay? | Raniere: Yes, of course…. You know I guard the other pictures, right? | Camila: From way back when? | Raniere: I wanted the original forever. I thought it was truly mine. Yes, from way back.
2014, September 4: Whatsapp conversation between Camila, 24, and Raniere. Raniere: “I’m so proud to have been your husband for 8.75 years… and shared a home for 4”. 8.75 from current date suggestes relationship started on December 4, 2005 when Camila was 15.
2015, September 18: Whatsapp conversation indicating a relationship with Camila. Camila writes “Happy Anniversary, honey! ten years ago you changed my life.” This would set Camila’s mark for start of relationship to September 18, 2005. FBI interprets this to be when they first had sex.
2014, October 15: Whatapps conversation indicating a relationship with Camila. Raniere wrote “Besides, you do not need that to do the right thing… Breaking up is the wrong thing considering that and 8.5 years…”
2014, November 12: Whatsapp conversation indicating a relationship with Camila. Raniere wrote “That is the summation of our 8.5 years together”
2015, November 27: Whatapp conversation indicating a relationship with Camila. Raniere wrote “You though give me uncertainty when I have earned so much more over 9 years. 9 years plus the things you’ve done are cruel.” 9 years would be around November 2005 when Camila was 15.
2015: Camila attempts suicide. Found by Raniere. Nancy Salzman determines minor injuries. Camila has sex with NXIVM trainer, tells Raniere, he ends relationship. Month of attempt currently not mentioned.
2015, October, 23: Raniere orders Camila to recruit a slave to seduce him via email.
2015, December, 27: Whatsapp conversation indicating a relationship with Camila. Raniere: “How many attractive, not socially defective virgins would give their life to someone like me at my age? | Camila: “…What woman wouldn’t want that? You know for a fact that they all want you.” | Raniere: “Even an inexperienced 18-year-old? | Camila: “Even an inexperienced 15-year-old. | ” Would need to be a once in a lifetime person, and I had that and lost it.”
2017, June 5: Frank Reports breaks story on DOS
2017, October 14: New York Times publishes story on DOS. Leads to FBI investigation.
2017, November 10: Raniere moves to Mexico
2018, January 18: FBI uses search warrant for Raniere’s Yahoo email which includes correspondence with Camila, discussions on a vow and collateral.
2018, February 14: FBI gets warrant for Raniere for sex trafficking and forced labor. Victims are members of DOS
2018, February 18: Frank Report publishes article on Raniere’s location as Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
2018, March 25: Raniere captured by Mexican authorities near Puerto Vallarta and flown back to the USA
2018, March 26: Raniere arrested in Dallas by FBI. FBI get search warrant for 8 Hale.
2018, March 27: 8 Hale raided, FBI seize WD external hard drive and camera with memory card from office. Last used in 2012 based on comparisons with pictures from then. Total of 37 items collected. Items in custody of FBI SA Elliot McGinnis.
2018, April 4: FBI SA Elliot McGinnis turns over items to FBI SA Michael Lever
2018, April 6: FBI SA Michael Lever to Evidence Control Unit (ECU)
2018, April 19: Allison Mack and Raniere charged with Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking, Sex Trafficking and Conspiracy to Commit Forced Labor
2018, May 4: Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis sets trial date for October 1, 2018.
2018, June 12: Raniere denied bail due to being a flight risk
2018, July 10: SA Rees removes Canon camera from ECU, contents of Lexar memory card has not been copied by Computer Analysis and Response Team (CART)
2018, July 24: Clare Bronfman, Lauren Salzman, Nancy Salzman, Kathy Russell arrested for rackettering and consipriacy charges with same charges added to Raniere’s case.
2018, July 25: During status conference, DOJ requests trial delay to January 2019, Judge pushes trial start from October 1 to January 7, 2019
2018, July 27: Camera with card returned to ECU. Unknown if card reviewed by SA Rees during the 17 days she had the evidence.
2018, August 8: SA Lever and SA Delise Jeffries remove WD hard drive from ECU and deliver to CART
2018, September 11: AUSA Moira Kim Penza asks for another delay of trial due to processing evidence and use of “third-party vendor” to facilitate reviewing the digital data. Chain of custody indicates WD hard drive and camera with card has been turned out to anyone outside of the FBI. Not indicated is if any other seized items are with third party vendor.
2018, September 13: AUSA Penza asks for delay as discovery on 10 to 12 TB of data would not be completed until mid-December, partly due to volume of data and partly due to capturing metadata for the digital files.
2018, September 18: Another status conference. Indications are CART has not yet processed the evidence. Not clear if this is specifically referring to evidence items 1 and 2 or any of the the 37 items collected.
2018, September 19: Forensic copy of WD hard drive made by CART FBI trainee Virginia Donnelly uses write-blocking software per CART procedure to prevent altering data while copying. FBI SA Lever checks out camera with card from ECU. The card has not been digitially copied by CART. File access dates of 9/19/2018 indicate card examined that day. Procedure is to examine the copy of the data, not the orginial source of the data.
2018, September 26: SA Lever returns camera and card to SCU.
2018, September 27: During pretrial discovery hearing, AUSA Hajjar comments on camera and pictures discovered during improper examination. Only printed copies of photos of several people is provided to defense. None are of Camila or Daniela.
2018, October 5: Digital copies of WD hard drive contents provided to defense. Not clear if this includes all digital data from all seized items.
2018, November 14: DOJ reveal have evidence of sex with minor when opposing Raniere’s second bail application
2018, November 19: DOJ reveals name of minor as Camila, when she was 15 and Raniere was 46. Currently a ‘first-line DOS slave’. Evidence they cite is diary entries from her alleged diary dated July 2007 referencing a “teacher”, an email sent when Camila was 19 and 7 chats in Whatsapp between pair that was attached to an email, sent when Camila was in her mid-twenties.
2018, December 5: Raniere denied bail application
2019, January 9: AUSA Pena expected DOJ to file new charges against Raniere.
2019, January 11: DOJ seeks to delay trial date
2019, January 15: New trial date set to April 29, 2019
2019, Febuary 11: At Discovery hearing, AUSA Penza indicates Defendants have all evidence from 8 Hale.
2019. February 19 or 21: 22 nude photos of Camila are found on WD hard drive by FBI SA Lever. Metadata, folder date and file EXIF data indicates photos taken on November 2, 2005 by Canon EOS 20D camera (evidence item #1). Two nudes are found in folder labeled “V110205” subfolder. Another 8 photos, in same subfolder were taken on 11-24-2005 based on metadata and EXIF data. Photos indicate no appendectomy scarring that occured on 01-09-2007 when Camila was age 16. Dates plus lack of scar would mean photos taken when she was 15.
2019, February 22: SA Lever brings camera and memory card to CART. SA Lever removes WS hard drive from ECU. Assumed it remained in his custody until identified in court nearly 4 months later.
2019, March 13: Due to explicit photos found on WD hard drive were prior to January 1, 2015 date, a second warrant using “plan view doctrine” was issued for the photos. Plain view was the hard drive was sitting on a shelf above Raniere’s desk that was part of the initial search.
2019, April 11: First forensic copy made of camera card. This was after data had already been accessed on the orginial card, against FBI evidence procedures. A Forensic Toolkit (FTK) report is made.
2019, May 7: Trial of Raniere begins.
2019, June 10: FBI Special Agent Christopher Mills identifies the black WD hard drive under oath during Raniere’s trial after initially calling saying the hard drive was silver or gray. WD hard drive is not returned to FBI’s ECU. Unknown where hard drive currently is.
2019, June 10: Second forensic copy made of camera card. A second FTK report is made. Allegedly the first report was replaced with the second report for trial. Difference between the two reports is the addition of 31 photo files.
Other notes on facts as presented:
– Mariana/Raniere goes from 2003, then age 20 to his 43, to unknown date with one son born 2017.
– Daniela/Raniere goes from 2003, her 17 to his 43, 2006, her at age 20. Ended for her kissing another man
– Camila/Raniere goes from 2005, her 16 to his 45, to 2015, her at age 26. Ended for sex with another man.
– Mariana and Daniela knew both were in sexual relationship with Raniere. It is not known if two sisters knew about his relationship with Camila
– Based on folder path, computer that had photos was a Dell Dimension 8300 desktop. Series first released in 2003, but date purchased unknown. Computer was not located at 8 Hale.
– Total of 167 nude photos found of 11 woman and 1 female child found by FBI on external hard drive at \BACKUPS\BKP.DellDimensions8300-20090330\Studies folder. Eleven of the those involved taken at 8 Hale, one at 3 Flintlock.
– Raniere describes Daniela as his “hacker” to collect information for him. He says this proves she had the skills to help the FBI frame him.
– Camila, who does not testify at the trial, later confirms at sentencing that nude photos were taken of her by Raniere early in their relationship. She indicated he took many pictures of her from 2005 to around 2008. Those other photos have not been found.
– 8 Hale March 27, 2018 search warrant authorizes seizure of items related to “evidence, fruits and instrumentalities” of “sex trafficking, forced labor, extortion, and racketeering” for dates “on or after January 1, 2015”. Items do include “computers or storage media” that can also be used to store collateral. The warrant describes collateral as including “explicit photographs and videos of DOS slaves”. A evidence log from the search includes a total of 37 items removed from the home including all computers and external hard drives.
– Evidence Item #1 is Raniere’s EOS 20D Canon camera which contains a Lexar memory card with photos
– Evidence Item #2 is described in evidence log with special agent’s signature dated 3/27/2018 as “2) Western Digital SN: WCA581365334”. A picture taken by FBI at the time places a yellow #2 note on neighboring Lacie hard drive SN: 154107441. Both items are next to a Sony DVD drive SN: 5042648
– Evidence Item #36 is Sony DVD drive SN: 5042648
– Evidence Item #37 is Lacie hard drive SN: 154107441
– Durng trial FBI Special Agent Mills identifies with nude pictures, from memory, as silver or gray. Shortly after AUSA Hajjar brings out the black WD drive which he then identifies from the scene.
– Dr. J. Richard Kiper, consultant paid by Raniere’s team, reports what he views as critical evidence of malfeasance:
– The camera containing and hard drive with child nude photos are first two items FBI seizes
– Numbering of evidence is done later due to multiple rooms being searched at same time which did not happen in the 8 Hale search.
– Seventeen days SA Rees kept camera with digital memory card is against evidence protocol as examination would have been performed by a CART examiner, not the agent.
– Digital evidence protocol is for Computer Analysis and Response Team (CART) to make forensic copy of data. The copy is what is then reviewed during the investigation.
– When camera and memory card forensically copied by CART, this is after SA Lever had examined contents of the card, copied the card, and printed pictures from card. Procedure is to perform these tasks on the forensic copy, not the orginial source device.
– No date is provided when FBI obtained Camila’s medical records to confirm date of her appendectomy.
– 168 photos found in 11 sub-folders in “Studies” folder where nude photos of 1 child and 11 women found.
– Prosecution did not provide forensic copy of WD hard drive of the evidence until close to trial. They never provided a copy of the camera card.
– Unclear what additional 31 pictures that second forensic copy are of and how used in trial. Nor where came from. According to Frank this increased the number of “files of adult partners on camera card” from 4 to 35. Its unclear so far if any underage photos of Camila were found on the camera card at any time.
– Thumbnails of 4 files show Angel, not Daniela who is actually in the pictures.
– Camila photos on WD hard drive have a creation date in 2003 (suggesting a time when first backed up) but EXIF data creation data for each photo shows 2005.
– Adobe Photoshop was used on at least one file.
My thoughts:
– from timeline, its pretty clear the FBI failed to get a forensic copy of the Lexar camera card making anything about it suspect since unable to compare to the copy for changes (these accusations of malfeasance is precisely why step 1 is forensic copy)
– from timeline, its also clear the FBI did get a forensic copy of the WD hard drive, so the nude pictures are real. None of what Suneel and Frank have written do anything to actually attack this rather important fact. Well except for a post it note location.
– Having said that, showing Raniere took the photos with his camera is an important part of things otherwise Raniere could claim the pictures where placed on the hard drive by others that had access to it. Not entirely sure how he would sell this con since its claiming someone set a bomb against Raniere, forgot about it, and the FBI just happened to come along to trip it even though its pretty clear Raniere and co. were never expecting the FBI to investigate them since they thought buying off the local police was sufficient.
– I do agree the FBI agents should be investigated for whatever happened with the camera card. That is some strange shit that is beyond just not following a procedure. If they have faked evidence once, they either have done it in the past or likely will do it in the future. Rather some future dangerous or abusive person not go free because of them.
– The Lexar card should have not been allowed into evidence. Know whose responsibility it is to fight that? Yep the defense. They missed their chance, be it fair or not on how interpret things. Court procedures where followed even if FBI ones were not and isn’t going to be enough to over turn case.
Very comprehensive. Thank you. There is some more coming. But in the aggregate, I agree with most of your assertions. But there is more.
Frank stop being a commie and stop censoring patriot god. I know he’s commenting and you’re not letting his words be published. Bc he comments on pretty much everything.
Let him off his chains. He has a right to voice his own opinions and comedy. Stop with the antiamerican madness Frank!
I hate commies.
Then why do you act like them by censoring free speech? And why do you evade the question when you’re confronted by it like a commie does?
So do you want to be a man and address this or a pussy?!
Let me ask you this can you ever deal straight about anything at all?!
Address what? What comment do you have to make about this story of alleged FBI tampering?
“Address what? What comment do you have to make about this story of alleged FBI tampering?”
Let me tell you what I want you to fucking address! Open your ears up really well and focus like a laser beam and don’t be an evasive jackass to these critical questions that you are obligated to held accountable by the public for under the political philosophy of this country!
I’m going to write numbered questions. In your reply, I want you to answer each question in correlation to its number. I’m going to give you an example so that your brain can get it!
Example:
1. My question?
2. My question?
3. My question?
Example Of Proper Reply From Frank [In Brackets]:
1. My question? [Frank’s Answer]
2. My question? [Frank’s Answer]
3. My question? [Frank’s Answer]
Ok you ready? Here’s the real questions!
1. Why do you claim to support free speech while simultaneously and hypocritically trying to modify it?!
2. You’ve been told a thousand fucking times over by numerous people that no matter how “long”, “irrelevant”, or “offensive” the comment is, free speech MEANS *FREE SPEECH*! There will NEVER be a condition or subjective objection on your part (or anybody else’s) on the content on anybody’s speech that will ever warrant you give you right to withhold or edit their free speech! So by doing so at any time for any reason, you are rebelling against the U.S. Constitution that you claim to “strongly support”! So when are you actually going to actually pick a side be honest to the public about it and stop playing games?! Are you pro U.S. Constitution on how it is supposed to be interpreted or are you going to modify the U.S. Constitution (like you do on your website with everything else) and be an enemy to it?!
3. Why is that when other people outside of patriot god, constantly post up random videos, comments, or anything else outside of the context of the article, you don’t censor them but only patriot god?! Countess people always post up random and off topic shit on your comments weekly if not daily and you don’t ever bat an eye! So why do you have a double standard on patriot god vs everybody else and keep playing this game of “off topic” when you don’t give a shit about anybody who does it and are more than willing to post their comments?!
I commend you for your diligence and the effort you have made to accurately chronicle everything about the NXIVM case, as this goes far beyond what an ordinary reader and commenter on a blog normally does. You are extraordinarily dedicated.
The second report- just before trial is so staged. The corruption is clear. No one wants to believe this is what our government does, but this is exactly what our government does.
And they get away with it. Only now, after persistence, years, investment into experts and careful analysis and presentation, are the FBI and prosecutors found out and exposed.
And even with all of this evidence, in all likelihood there will be no accountability.
How do we take our country back? Because the government is controlling and abusing its power and its people.
Nah. The second report could just be the result of files that were deleted having been recovered. Don’t cry deadender. Your grandmaster took those pictures and is going to stay in prison for the rest of his life. Do you really think that the FBI would just brazenly plant pictures and the defense would just ignore the false ones during trial? It’s no wonder you fell for a conman and hid cult stupidity.
Way to go, Frank.
You, again, demonstrate the social courage to tell the truth – despite the social consequences.
Too few humans possess this courage.
Alanzo
The entire case for an appeal rests solely on Kiper’s testimony.
The gentleman can’t read ASM or machine code, or Hex code. LMAO!
\\\\\\
Kiper is totally dependent on software tools which can’t truly verify anything other than to flag possible file manipulations. It’s [heuristic]’ and indefinite.
Kiper is in essence Tarot Card reader.
Kiper is a hired gun with an axe to grind.
***
Frank you’re writing as always is excellent. I think you’ve been given bad data.’
Keith Raniere told Camilla in a text that he still had (slightly paraphrased) “the first photos from way back then” and gave the date. And the date of their first sexual impropriety when Camilla was 15 and called it their, “anniversary”.
Keith Raniere was even so kind to the future prosecutors as to give the number of years. Keith’s math and words made it clear that Camilla was 15.
Camilla has confirmed those facts.
Keith never denied taking pornographic photos of Camilla as a child during the trial.
Keith’s attorneys conceeded that Keith did take sexually explicit photos of Camilla when she was a minor.
Keith is guilty.
Keith knows it.
Camilla knows it.
The jury knew it
The dead-enders know it.
Keith’s never getting out of prison.
“The FBI completed two forensic examinations and generated two
different reports on the same evidence: A compact flash (CF) card found in a digital camera case”
This is supposed to be some kind of “smoking gun”? So a second, more detailed report was presented later in the in the trial. So what?
There’s a lot of technical gobbledegook here, meant to obscure the main point. Raniere had explicit pornographic pictures of underage Camila on a backup drive in his office. She has said, in court, that he took the pictures. This all fits his MO. It’s backed up by his own text messages.
This attempt to obfuscate the issue with a paid “analysts” suppositions and speculations is as unconvincing as it is futile. It’s irrelevant. The evidence, the actual photos, were introduced in court. Raniere and his defense team did not object at the time. That’s because Raniere took and saved those pictures.
Claviger explained the legal irrelevance of this whole thing months ago.
The idea that the FBI might have somehow conceivably faked and planted those pictures is absurd. What, do they have a time machine? Where did they get those pictures of 15 year old Camila, posed just the way Raniere liked ‘em?
This speculative conspiracy theory is laughable.
The idea that there are “questions to ask” is laughable.
Chakravorty’s theories are laughable.
This is Q Anon level junk.
Kiper – “In this case, however, the difference between the two FTK reports cannot be attributed to the use of a different tool, because both examiners used the same tool and version number: AccessData
Forensic Toolkit, Version 6.3.1.26.”
Perhaps you can explain how the same took kit produces two different reports. I am also curious why the FBI had to make a second report.
Two people using the same tools usually produce different results. F’r instance give me a chisel, a hammer and a hunk of marble and I’ll produce a mangled hunk of marble. Michelangelo gave us David.
Two people using PowerPoint for the same project will produce two different presentations.
Two people using pencils and legal pads can produce two different reports. One might be more detailed than the other.
Why would anyone think this was suspicious?
Chakravorty deems anything the FBI did as suspicious. He and the other Raniere defenders refuse to believe their Vanguard is guilty and the only way they can preserve their delusion is this foolishness about the FBI faking evidence. It’s the best they can do and it’s a joke.
It’s desperate and absurd. To an objective observer it’s just laughable.
Your analogy is not quite right. This is not art, it is science. Two thermometers taking the same person’s temperature should be the same. Unless maybe the guy changed his temperature by secretly drinking hot water.
But the real question is why was a second report needed?
Kiper wrote, “On 6/11/19, five weeks into the trial and one day before he took the stand, FBI Examiner Brian Booth created another forensic copy and another FTK report of the same CF card.
“In the FBI, this is considered a reexamination and is prohibited by policy.
“However, in this second report there were new files present in the file listing that were not on the previous report.”
Why did they need a second report?
Because the first report was less detailed? To update it? Someone’s dog ate the first report?
It’s really silly to speculate on something that could just easily be answered. Why not just have one of Keith’s Representatives ask? It would go something like, “Why was there a second report?”
And then the cult die-hards would either get an answer or they wouldn’t. Through rational inquiry!
Why didn’t the defense ask, ” Hey, how come there are two reports” ?
Why don’t they ask now? The constant speculation over innocuous details makes all of the Dead Ender claims look frivolous. And acting like there are all these unanswered questions if nobody’s actually asked for an answer is also suspicious.
There was a second, more detailed report available, so they used it.
You find it suspicious that there were two reports. You find it suspicious that, in serving a warrant for digital images, the first item seized was a digital camera. You find everything the FBI did suspicious.
To an unbiased observer, none of this is suspicious.
Your and Chakravorty’s and Kiper’s suspicions do not constitute proof of evidence tampering. Nor are they evidence. They’re just your suspicions.
Sad to say, but this eight + series reiterating the same points over and over smacks of obsession. It does little for your cause. Eight articles and still no coherent story of FBI tampering. That’s sad. Chakravorty’s hypotheses is a mess. Where, for instance, did the FBI get those pictures they supposedly planted? Some apparently mislabeled thumbnails proves the FBI planted porn? What?? The infamous Midnight Tree?
Yes, the FBI made some procedural errors. The famous memory card in a baggie. In the course of a two year investigation and a month long trial, how significant is that?
The Free Raniere team have done a thorough (some might say obsessively thorough) job of exposing every tiny crack in the prosecution of this case. It don’t amount to a hill of beans.
Everyone following this comedy tale needs to keep in mind this fact: Raniere was not convicted of child pornography. It wasn’t on the indictment. The issue is irrelevant.
I quote from the DOJ press release of June 19, 2019:
“Keith Raniere, the founder and leader of Nxivm, was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of all seven counts of a superseding indictment charging him with racketeering and racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking, attempted sex trafficking and sex trafficking conspiracy; forced labor conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy.”
So the Free Raniere club are claiming FBI agents risked their careers and jail to somehow in some unknown manner to fabricate evidence proving Raniere guilty of a crime he was not actually charged with It makes no sense.
In a trial the FBI wasn’t particularly interested in, until a NYT article gave them the kick in the pants.
Yet the Free Raniere club claim the FBI was so “desperate” to win this case that they broke the law and faked evidence. For a crime Raniere wasn’t actually charged with. Huh??
The child porn evidence was one of three predicate acts supporting the racketeering charge. The Feds needed only two. It turned out to be superfluous, the jury found against Raniere on all 3.
It’s a minor issue and from a legal standpoint irrelevant to the appeal of Raniere’s conviction. Claviger explained this months ago. You’re arguing over irrelevancies.
That’s why this tampering tale sounds crazy to an objective observer. It’s Q-anon level stuff. Arguing absurdities.
The tale doesn’t even make sense in terms of internal cohesion. Let alone being entirely lacking in any kind of actual evidence.
But by all means carry on, continue with Parts nine through infinity with this nutty tale. I’m getting a good laugh, and I have fun deconstructing conspiracy theories.
—Chakravorty’s theories are laughable.
His belief that Nicki Clyne is attracted to him is equally laughable.
This is the biggest load of horse-shit I have ever read in my entire life.
Suneel looks like he crawled out of a used condom—9 months after it was discarded.
Nice Guy, I never did tell you. You’re a different kind of a guy.
Thanks Frank!
I am different!
I think you are peachy!