Brian Jeffrey Raymond , a veteran CIA officer , has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for drugging, photographing, and sexually assaulting more than two dozen women while posted in various countries around the world. The sentencing hearing, held on Wednesday, was an emotional one, with victims describing the impact of Raymond's actions on their lives, news agency AP reported.
Raymond, who pleaded guilty to four of 25 federal counts, including sexual abuse, coercion, and transportation of obscene material, expressed remorse in a statement, saying, "There are no words to describe how sorry I am. That's not who I am and yet it's who I became."
The case has brought attention to the issue of sexual misconduct within the CIA, with recent reports of other incidents involving agency employees. The CIA has publicly condemned Raymond's crimes and implemented reforms to address the problem, but the full extent of sexual misconduct within the agency remains classified.
US Senior Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly described Raymond as a "sexual predator" and imposed the full sentence requested by prosecutors. The 48-year-old's assaults, which date back to 2006, followed a similar pattern: he would lure women he met on dating apps to his government-leased apartment, drug them while serving wine and snacks, and then photograph and assault them while they were unconscious.
A victim said, "My body looks like a corpse on his bed," in reference to the images. "Now I have these nightmares of seeing myself dead." Numerous victims highlighted the long-term effects of Raymond's acts, such as panic attacks, recurrent trances, and broken confidence and trust in other people.
Prosecutors described Raymond as a "serial offender" whose assaults escalated over time, becoming "almost frenetic" during his final posting in Mexico City. They noted that he often manipulated his victims, causing them to blame themselves for losing consciousness and feel ashamed.
As part of his sentence, Raymond was ordered to pay $10,000 to each of his 28 victims. His attorneys had sought leniency, arguing that his work at the CIA following 9/11 contributed to his emotional detachment and objectification of others.
Raymond, who pleaded guilty to four of 25 federal counts, including sexual abuse, coercion, and transportation of obscene material, expressed remorse in a statement, saying, "There are no words to describe how sorry I am. That's not who I am and yet it's who I became."
The case has brought attention to the issue of sexual misconduct within the CIA, with recent reports of other incidents involving agency employees. The CIA has publicly condemned Raymond's crimes and implemented reforms to address the problem, but the full extent of sexual misconduct within the agency remains classified.
US Senior Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly described Raymond as a "sexual predator" and imposed the full sentence requested by prosecutors. The 48-year-old's assaults, which date back to 2006, followed a similar pattern: he would lure women he met on dating apps to his government-leased apartment, drug them while serving wine and snacks, and then photograph and assault them while they were unconscious.
A victim said, "My body looks like a corpse on his bed," in reference to the images. "Now I have these nightmares of seeing myself dead." Numerous victims highlighted the long-term effects of Raymond's acts, such as panic attacks, recurrent trances, and broken confidence and trust in other people.
Prosecutors described Raymond as a "serial offender" whose assaults escalated over time, becoming "almost frenetic" during his final posting in Mexico City. They noted that he often manipulated his victims, causing them to blame themselves for losing consciousness and feel ashamed.
As part of his sentence, Raymond was ordered to pay $10,000 to each of his 28 victims. His attorneys had sought leniency, arguing that his work at the CIA following 9/11 contributed to his emotional detachment and objectification of others.
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