Military/Gov’t

A former CIA officer who drugged, photographed, and sexually assaulted more than two dozen women in various countries was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison on Wednesday, Jim Mustian and Joshua Goodman of The Associated Press reported via NBC Los Angeles affiliate NBC4. The sentencing of Brian Jeffrey Raymond followed an emotional hearing in which victims described being deceived by a man who appeared to be kind, educated, and part of an organization "that is supposed to protect the world from evil." Raymond, visibly subdued in an orange prison jumpsuit, listened as U.S. Senior Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly handed down the full sentence requested by prosecutors. Raymond had created a personal archive of over 500 images, capturing him assaulting his unconscious victims. “It's safe to say he's a sexual predator,” Judge Kollar-Kotelly remarked. “You will have a period of time to reflect on this.” Prosecutors revealed that Raymond, 48, had been assaulting women since 2006 during his CIA career in locations such as Mexico and Peru. His method followed a consistent pattern: meeting women on dating apps like Tinder, luring them to his government-leased apartment, and drugging them. After they became unconscious, he spent hours posing, photographing, and assaulting their naked bodies, sometimes prying open their eyelids or placing his fingers in their mouths. Around a dozen of his victims, referred to only by numbers, testified in court, detailing the lasting impact Raymond's actions had on their lives. Many only became aware of the assaults after the FBI showed them photographs of themselves unconscious and being abused. “My body looks like a corpse on his bed,” one victim recounted after seeing the images. Another victim spoke of a nervous breakdown, while others described recurring nightmares and a loss of trust in others. “I hope he is haunted by the consequences of his actions for the rest of his life,” said one victim, who, like many others, looked Raymond directly in the eye before leaving the podium. Raymond expressed remorse in court, stating that he had spent many hours reflecting on his "downward spiral." He acknowledged that no apology could ever be enough, saying, “There are no words to describe how sorry I am. That’s not who I am, yet it’s who I became.” Raymond's sentencing comes amid a broader reckoning on sexual misconduct at the CIA. Recent reports have highlighted other instances of alleged misconduct within the agency. Last week, a veteran CIA officer was charged with sexual assault for an incident involving a colleague at an office party. Another former trainee is set to stand trial on charges of assaulting a woman at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia. This case has spurred more than two dozen women to come forward with their own stories of sexual harassment and assault within the agency. The full extent of sexual misconduct at the CIA remains hidden under the veil of national security, with a recent 648-page internal report on the issue classified. Author Liza Mundy, who wrote about women at the CIA, noted that the male-dominated agency has long harbored such behavior. “For decades, men at the top had free rein,” Mundy said. Although the CIA publicly condemned Raymond's crimes and implemented reforms to address sexual misconduct, significant details of his case remain classified. Even after his guilty plea last year, prosecutors have refrained from disclosing a full list of the countries where Raymond carried out his assaults. However, they described his behavior as escalating in severity, particularly during his final posting in Mexico City, where his crimes were discovered in 2020 after a naked woman cried for help from his apartment balcony. Investigators uncovered a trove of electronic evidence, including videos and photographs of his victims, all of whom reported memory loss during their time with him. One victim recounted how Raymond appeared to be a “perfect gentleman” when they met in Mexico in 2020. She had no memory of what occurred after she blacked out, unaware that Raymond had taken 35 photos and videos of her. Prosecutors argued that Raymond manipulated his victims into blaming themselves for blacking out, often gaslighting them by suggesting they had simply drunk too much. Raymond, a San Diego native and former White House intern, ultimately pleaded guilty to several charges, including sexual abuse and coercion. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to pay $10,000 to each of his 28 victims. His defense attorneys had sought leniency, arguing that his “quasi-military” work at the CIA in the years following 9/11 had contributed to his emotional detachment and objectification of others. “He was an invaluable government worker, but it took its toll on him and sent him down a dark path,” his attorney, Howard Katzoff, wrote in a court filing.

Military/Gov’t

Former CIA officer sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually abusing dozens of women

CIA Sexual Misconduct: New Allegations Emerge Despite Promises To Reform

Study: U.S. Military Sexual Assault Rates 2 to 4 Times Above Government Estimates

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Military/Gov’t

Former CIA officer sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually abusing dozens of women

CIA Sexual Misconduct: New Allegations Emerge Despite Promises To Reform

Study: U.S. Military Sexual Assault Rates 2 to 4 Times Above Government Estimates

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