Brian Jeffrey Raymond, a former CIA officer, received a 30-year federal prison sentence on Wednesday for drugging and sexually assaulting over two dozen women worldwide.
The 48-year-old La Mesa, California resident faced his sentencing after an emotional hearing where victims described being deceived by someone who seemed kind, educated and was working for a protective agency.
U.S. Senior Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly labeled Raymond a sexual predator before delivering the sentence that prosecutors requested. She emphasised Raymond would have time to reflect on his actions. Besides prison time, Raymond was ordered to pay $260,000 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves stated that Raymond’s sentence ensures he will be marked as a sex offender for life and will spend a significant portion of his remaining years in prison.
Ex-CIA officer who drugged, sexually assaulted dozens of women gets 30 years in prisonhttps://t.co/3AxFZyKgox
— South China Morning Post (@SCMPNews) September 19, 2024
The assaults, which began in 2006, occurred in countries like Mexico and Peru. Raymond used Tinder and other dating apps to lure women to his government-leased apartment in Mexico City and other locations.
There, he drugged them with wine and snacks, photographed them while unconscious, and sexually assaulted them. Prosecutors detailed how Raymond sometimes opened the victims’ eyelids and put his fingers in their mouths while they were unconscious.
Raymond attempted to delete the incriminating images and videos when he learned he was under investigation. About a dozen victims, identified by numbers in court, recounted the life-altering impact of Raymond’s actions. Some only discovered what happened after the FBI showed them photos of the assaults.
One victim described the horror of seeing herself unconscious in the photos, leading to recurring nightmares. Another woman expressed hope that Raymond would be haunted by his actions for the rest of his life.
A former CIA officer was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Wednesday for drugging and sexually abusing more than two dozen women in several countries. #SexualHarassment #CIA #Drugs #JusticeDepartment https://t.co/XIEt2as7l1
— Sinar Daily (@sinardailymy) September 19, 2024
Raymond kept over 500 images of his nude, unconscious victims, with some photos showing him groping and straddling them. In court, Raymond apologised, acknowledging his actions betrayed his values and that no apology could suffice.
Prosecutors have not released a full list of the countries where the sexual assaults took place but identified Raymond as a serial offender. His defense attorneys sought leniency, citing his work at the CIA post-9/11, which they argued contributed to his emotional detachment and objectification of others.
Raymond pleaded guilty to 25 counts, including sexual abuse, coercion, and transportation of obscene material. His defense attorney, Howard Katzoff, noted that Raymond’s work led him to isolate himself and become emotionally numb.
A CIA officer has been sentenced to 30yrs in prison for the sexual abuse of 25 women in multiple countries.
Since 2006 he coerced women from dating apps, drugged them, sexually assaulted, & photographed them in government leased housing.
Meet Brian Jeffrey Raymond. pic.twitter.com/0WIJxsrowf
— dara faye (@darafaye) September 19, 2024
Raymond’s sentencing adds to the CIA’s recent troubles. An officer trainee is set to face trial next month for allegedly assaulting a woman with a scarf at the agency’s Langley, Virginia headquarters.
This case has prompted about two dozen women to report their own experiences of sexual assaults and unwanted touching, along with claims of the CIA’s attempts to silence them.
What Other Media Are Saying
- ABC News reports a veteran CIA officer, Brian Jeffrey Raymond, sentenced to 30 years for drugging and sexually assaulting dozens of women, highlighting systemic misconduct within the agency. (Read more)
- The article highlights a CIA officer’s alleged assault and the agency’s failure to address systemic sexual misconduct, despite pledged reforms and internal investigations being shielded as national security secrets. (Read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who is Brian Jeffrey Raymond?
Brian Jeffrey Raymond is a former CIA officer sentenced for drugging and sexually assaulting more than two dozen women.
What was Brian Jeffrey Raymond’s sentence?
He was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $260,000 in restitution.
How did Brian Jeffrey Raymond carry out the assaults?
He drugged women he met on dating apps, then assaulted and photographed them while they were unconscious.
Where did Brian Jeffrey Raymond’s assaults occur?
The assaults occurred in Mexico, Peru, and other countries, but specific locations are not fully disclosed.
What did the victims say about Brian Jeffrey Raymond?
Victims described him as deceptive and expressed that the assaults had severely impacted their lives.
