Former CIA officer sentenced to 30 years in prison for drugging, sexually abusing, and filming several women without their consent. This is one of the worst misconduct cases ever in the history of the agency.
The United States Attorney’s Office released a statement saying that Brian Jeffrey Raymond, 48 from La Mesa in California, had photographed and filmed in multiple countries 28 women who were unconscious or incapable of consenting.
Raymond pleaded guilty to one count of each sexual abuse, abusive contact with a sexual partner, coercion, enticement, and transportation of offensive material in November 2023. The crimes were committed between 2006 and 2020.
As part of the plea agreement, he also admitted to drugging four women and sexually abusing them, along with engaging in nonconsensual contact with six other women.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves stated, “This predator lured women into his government-leased apartment and drugged them.”
After drugging the women, he stripped them, sexually abused them, and took pictures of them. The defendant’s life will be marked by the sentence today, and he is likely to spend the majority of his remaining years behind bars.
David Sundberg is the FBI Assistant Director in Charge of the Washington Field Office. He said Raymond abused his position as an employee of the U.S. Government.
He then abused them sexually, drugged them, and took photos and videos without their consent. Sundberg stated that the FBI “thanks brave women for sharing information which furthered this case”.
According to The Associated Press, court documents reveal that Raymond’s victims were raped and sexually assaulted while he worked in Mexico City. In the investigation, the Mexican government and Mexico City’s police forces collaborated.
In a statement, the Attorney General notes that there is evidence showing Raymond “touching or manipulating their bodies while unconscious and incapable of consent.” The statement stated that he later attempted to delete the video after an investigation was launched.
The U.S. District Court heard on Wednesday that Raymond met victims through Tinder or other dating apps, before luring and drugging them at his home. The court heard that Raymond would pose their bodies for hours, and some victims only discovered what had happened after being shown photos by the FBI.
One victim commented on the photos: “My body looks just like a corpse in his bed.” “I have nightmares about seeing myself dead.”
According to the AP, Raymond read a statement in court where he expressed remorse over his actions.
He said, “It was a betrayal of everything I believe in and I know that no apology can ever be sufficient.” There are no words that can describe my regret. It’s not me, but it’s what I became.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the CIA condemned Raymond for his actions. The statement read: “There’s no excuse for Mr. Raymond’s reprehensible and appalling behavior.” This case shows that we are committed to engaging with law enforcement.
Howard Katzoff, Raymond’s attorney, argued that his client had worked “tirelessly” and ignored his need for assistance. “Over time, he started to isolate himself and detach from human emotions and became emotionally numb,” according to the AP.
U.S. district judge Colleen Kollar Kotelly ordered Raymond to be on supervised release forever, to register as a sexual offender, and to pay $260,000 in reparations to his victims.
