Frank Parlato
American legal legend Alan Dershowitz alleges the FBI tampered with evidence to secure Keith Raniere’s conviction.
“What happens when the government doesn’t just bend the rules but breaks them entirely?” Dershowitz wrote in a recent op-ed in the Washington Times
“Just nine weeks before trial — and 11 months after the seizure of evidence — a Canon camera and an external hard drive were suddenly ‘accidentally discovered’ to contain evidence of alleged child pornography. This late ‘discovery’ not only added new charges but also pressured several co-defendants into pleading guilty.
“However, according to experts, the evidence wasn’t discovered; it was invented. Seven experts, including four former FBI forensic examiners, concluded in a joint report submitted to the court: ‘Photos were planted and staged … with timestamps and folder names manipulated, apparently to simulate a 2005 timeframe. This conclusion is critical because the government depended entirely on these photos’ timestamps and folder names being authentic to argue that 22 of the photos were … illegal, based on the subject’s age being fifteen in 2005. This tampering … involved the manipulation of hundreds of files and time stamps.'”
Eleven months after they seized the hard drive, the FBI found 22 illicit pictures of Camila on it.
The same hard drive was photographed twice by the FBI – once as evidence item 2 – the hard drive where the 22 photos were found or planted, and again as evidence item 37.
EX
Conviction and Sentencing
On June 19, 2019, a federal jury convicted Raniere on multiple charges, including racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, forced labor conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy, and conspiracy to commit identity theft. Notably, the racketeering charges also included the last-minute addition of predicate acts of possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a minor, relating to a woman named Camila.
On October 27, 2020, Raniere was sentenced to 120 years in prison.
The government denied any claims of tampering, with FBI Senior Computer Scientist David Loveall stating that the evidence of tampering was explainable. However, the defense’s experts discovered inconsistencies in the metadata. For example, the Canon camera that was supposedly used to take the photos was manufactured in 2004, yet the metadata for the Camila files indicated dates from 2003.
The prosecutors asserted that the Western Digital hard drive contained 22 explicit images of Camila, but it was mislabeled in the FBI’s evidence logs. The hard drive was noted as “black,” while in FBI photographs, it appeared “silver/gray.”
EXIF D
Pre-filled evidence recovery logs indicate that the agents may have predetermined what they intended to seize before the raid commenced. The FBI prioritized the confiscation of the camera and hard drive, deliberately avoiding other rooms and items, suggesting they had prior knowledge of the location and significance of these devices.
The metadata in the photographs served as crucial forensic evidence linking Raniere to the alleged crimes involving an underage victim. Prosecutors highlighted the EXIF data in the images, arguing that it demonstrated Camila was 15 years old at the time. In contrast, defense experts claimed the timestamps had been modified to align with the government’s narrative.
Experts found manual alterations to folder names, timestamps, and metadata—consistent with tampering.
Someone forgot to remove the Adobe Photoshop filter on one file before planting the photos.
In other files, they forgot about daylight savings time when they changed the time stamp date.
On top of that, the FBI has lost the hard drive. The chain of custody for the hard drive abruptly ended months before Raniere’s trial. FBI protocol mandates every transfer and examination of evidence be documented.
Camera Card Chaos
On September 19, 2018, an individual within the FBI accessed the original camera card without using a write blocker—software which prevents modifications to digital evidence. Changes were made to the contents of the card, but the extent and nature of these changes remain unclear. Raniere’s defense team requested a forensic copy of the camera card; however, the prosecution denied the request.
FTK Report Discrepancies
FBI Forensic Examiner Stephen Flatley initially analyzed the CF card and discovered only four matching files on the hard drive. After Flatley was reportedly sent to Ghana, FBI Forensic Examiner Brian Booth conducted a second forensic examination, which went against FBI policy, and found 37 matching photo files. This was nearly ten times the amount of evidence linking the camera to the hard drive.
While some files were corrupted and could not be opened, thumbnail images of a brunette named Daniela Fernandez and a blonde named Angel Smith strangely swapped places between the hard drive and the camera card in the newly discovered files.
Data Determined the Date
The case relied heavily on the reliability of the EXIF data, which was the only metadata supporting the claim that the photos were created in 2005, when Camila was 15 years old.
Why Was Flatley Removed from the Case?
FBI Senior Forensic Examiner Stephen Flatley was initially assigned to the case but was removed near the end of the trial. Prosecutors informed Judge Nicholas Garaufis that he had to go to Ghana. However, FBI records indicated that Flatley was still in New York in June 2019, more than a month into the trial, raising questions about whether he was actually sent to Ghana or if this was simply a pretext to prevent him from testifying.
The case relied heavily on the reliability of the EXIF data, which was the only metadata supporting the claim that the photos were created in 2005, when Camila was 15 years old. The creation dates showed 2003.
Why Was Flatley Removed from the Case?
-Flatley was originally assigned to the case but was removed near the end of the trial. Prosecutors informed Judge Nicholas Garaufis that he had to go to Ghana. However, FBI records show that Flatley was still in New York in June 2019, which was more than a month into the trial. This raises questions about whether he was truly sent to Ghana or if this was merely a pretext to keep him from testifying.
FBI Examiner’s Testimony
During the trial, FBI Senior Forensic Examiner Brian Booth testified that EXIF data is challenging to alter and is designed to resist manipulation. He asserted that modifying EXIF data requires specialized software, which the average person typically does not possess.
Key Issues: Flatley vs. Booth on Metadata Reliability
Flatley testified in the case of U.S. v. John Galanis that the FBI does not depend on EXIF data to determine a file’s creation date because system clocks can be altered, and metadata can be manipulated using commonly available free software.
Dershowitz:
Dershowitz isn’t pulling any punches.
“What we seek at this time is an evidentiary hearing at which we can present our evidence, subject to cross-examination, so the judge and the public can determine, based on facts, whether our serious allegations are true. “There is no reason for the government to oppose such an inquiry, yet they did so from the beginning of the case and continue to do so now.
“The time has come, indeed it is long past, for the government to end the cover-up of what experienced experts regard as a major scandal.
“If they did nothing wrong, they should have nothing to hide. If they are refusing to let the truth come out, the public has the right to conclude that they do apparently have something to hide. The public has the right to know what they are afraid will come out at a hearing.
“Sunlight is a good disinfectant, and blocking the sun will make the infection — if there is one, as the experts have concluded — fester. So, it’s in the interest of all Americans for there to be a hearing on this important issue.”
Raniere’s Guilt Doesn’t Excuse FBI
Raniere is widely seen as a cult leader and abusive individual. Camila who did not testify during the trial, came to speak at Raniere’s sentencing. She said the photos were of her when she was 15, and Raniere took them. She received $500,000 in victim restitution for her statement.
But Dershowitz says that’s not the point. Camila did not testify at trial, although the prosecution could have forced her to testify. Since she was an unindicted coconspirator who allegedly committed the same crimes as other codefendants, she had ample reason to cooperate with the government narrative.
Even if the photos were authentic, but planted on the hard drive, or if the FBI changed the metadata to comport with photos taken earlier but not available to the FBI, the act disqualifies the evidence.
And even if Raniere is the most deplorable defendant, who if he is innocent of this offense certainly committed other offenses for which the government did not charge, it does not grant the FBI a license to plant or alter evidene.
Dershowitz said, “As a nation, we must separate personal opinions about individual defendants from the principles of justice. If the government can fabricate evidence against someone like Raniere, who will hold it accountable when it turns that power against the rest of us?”
Frank Parlato is an investigative journalist, media strategist, publisher, and legal consultant.
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If Raniere would just hire legal genius Richard Luthmann, he’d be out of jail in five minutes!
This clown’s not a legend. He’s an Epstein defender and flight logger—no wonder he’s also defending another sex-trafficker—and is a disgusting genocidal Zio supporter.
When US Attorney Hot Girl Summer was ordered to hit the bricks, when in any normal circumstance she would have been pushed and promoted to the fucking moon and beyond, there’s a problem.
Interesting that a woman right on the cusp of stardom went completely silent, to the point where she doesn’t even post to social media.
Maybe Moira is the recent anonymous reddit poster trying to steal personal information from the posters over there.
The ones who stormed her office and interrupted her various speeches were right to ask questions. I believe now, just as I believed then, that while Raniere participated in some criminal acts, that his supporters did not, and were not deserving of scorn. Good on them for asking questions. And bad on everyone else for making them into social pariahs.
Is Camilla also a plaintiff in the civil suit? Despite, you know, as you mention above, being a co-conspirator and participating in crimes?
What crimes did she allegedly participate in?
She could claim to be a victim for having been grounded in her room, except the person who did that isn’t a defendant on the civil suit, making it moot.
Kevin (Michele),
At 13 years old Cami was sex trafficked by her parents to Clifton Park, to be groomed by Pam Cafritz, to be raped at 15 by Kieth Raniere. Her childhood trauma caused her to do some irregular things as a yound adult. She is both a victim and a perp. But the former is most disturbing. Why do you attack her, yet support her rapist?
Moira is making a million + a year as a partner at Wilkinson Stekloff. You sound unhinged.
Dershowitz wants an evidentiary hearing ; Garaufis wants the status quo and a coverup.
MANY people STILL SUPPORT Vanguard, including the Dossier Project, We Are As One, The Forgotten Ones, etc. Many advocacy groups were formed in honor of Vanguard. Clare Bronfman, Suneel Chakravorty, Marc Elliot, The Boones Brothers, Michele Hatchette, Danielle Roberts, Sahajo Haertel, Anjelica Hinosos, Linda Chung, Leah Mottishaw and countless others are still commintted to ESP. Danielle Roberts proudly sports her “KAR” brand at family cookouts and in public. She loves Vanguard. She is fully collateralized and fully committed.
However, I AM THE ONE TO REAR KEITH’S AVATAR CHILD! You silly bitches got PLAYED!
Danielle, did you really believe Keith was going to choose YOU over me!? Awwww, hellllllll nawwww. You DUMB biotch. He used you to add credibilty to Nxivm because you are a doctor.
What I should have wrote is not that “none” depended on the evidence but that only one of the ten charges depended on that evidence. I don’t excuse any misconduct, currently only alleged and not proven, by anyone—including the FBI. Even if that one charge was/is excluded, Raniere is deviant (using your word) and criminal who deserves his sentence. For you to now push this now as if it is 100% true is sad, sad sensationalism.
Nx / ESP was a scam, and a Raniere is a deranged scammer. However, the sex abuse vs a minor charge was the lynchpin of the whole trial.It created huge sensationalism that drove all the other charges; and also the insane sentence where all the charges were stacked. Raniere, a a first time offender, most likely is out of prison in 3-5 years without the conviction on that charge.
The FBI blew it. They couldn’t even stage a frame-up correctly! And,Garaufis is a blind and entitled judge who believes he alone is God. The whole thing stinks and Agnifilo should return all the money he took because my aunt Gertrude could have done a better job of defending Raniere.
Pretty soon, they’ll be planting donuts at crime scenes just to frame cops for theft.
None of Raniere’s many convictions directly depended upon this evidence.
Keith Raniere is a BRILLIANT MAN!! He is the father of Kemar, KEMAR!
Executive Success Programs prepared VC, Bobo and myself for our future sexual encounters with men. Keith let us practice sucking his dick for YEARS! He got all three of us pregnant to teach us how to get abortions. Pam Cafritz taught us how to sexually please Keith.
Papa and Mama, thank you for introducing us to Executive Success Programs! We learned so much!
Camila may lied when she spoke. She was not under oath, she had an ax to grind with Raniere and may have been threatened by the Feds to speak or face indictment. The whole trail was rigged, confessions were forced out of all the defendants with the goal of putting Raniere away forever.
And, Raniere was poorly represented at trial. His attorney’s were more interested in smiling for the cameras than challenging the photos and meta card data. Complete incompetence.
Mr. Raniere is a brilliant man! He trained me to run marathons and play drums!
He was the leader of Society of Protectors when I was a member. I sang and played drums
He taught my underage daughters about sex.
Who cares if he raped my underage daughters and produced kiddie porn with them? I mean, he taught me to run a marathon.
Fuck that Jew prick Alan Dershowitz!
And fuck that WOP, guinea Frank Parlato!
God will strike his hand upon thee for attacking Vanguard!
Seems real investigation should be how Raniere is affording Dershowitz. The old man doesn’t come cheap as he happily sells himself to the highest bidder.
Cheaper just to see how much Trump charges for pardons and pay that instead. Trump will accept cash or launder it through his meme coin or stock.
Thank you Bronfman money
exactly my thoughts…….