FREE July 10th, 2019 - July 16th, 2019 NiagaraReporter.com Vol. 20, No. 9 FREE TV Special on NXIVM Cult to Feature Parlato By: Tony Farina Analysis Perhaps Rolling Stone best captured the essence of Frank Parlato's dogged pursuit of sex cult master Keith Raniere in a sto- ry published in May, just before the start of Raniere's sensational six-week trial that ended last month with his conviction on racketeering and sex trafficking

charges by a federal court jury in Frank Parlato, Credited with busting the NXIVM sex cult. Brooklyn. Parlato, the publisher of the story as a former NXIVM publicist turned Niagara Falls Reporter who also owns whistleblower "whose independent report- Artvoice, was named in the Rolling Stone (Cont. on pg. 2) Discovery Channel Safety Committee Announces Parlato Approved in NT Special on NXIVM By: Brendan McDonough to Air in December A new safety committee will now be looking into ways to keep North Tonawa- By: Nicholas D. D'Angelo nda City Hall a little safer. Members of The Discovery Channel has announced the Common Council approved the mea- sure this past week at their meeting on an investigation by Frank Parlato, a developer, Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019. an investigative journalist and owner of the The initiative comes on the heels of a Niagara Falls Reporter, will be the focus of a recent bomb scare that turned out to be a documentary, “The Lost Women of NXIVM,” false alarm. On June 25th, 2019, 36-year- that will air on its Investigation Discovery (Cont. on pg. 6) (Cont. on pg. 3) 2

NIAGARA REPORTER JULY 10, 2019 - JULY 16, 2019

TV Special Cont. from Cover ing is widely credited with helping investigators. "It was the branding spur the FBI investigation" into [of the women] that finally got the the self-help group led by Raniere. government's attention," said Parla- Many other newspapers and blog to. sites have also credited Parlato's Parlato's relentless public pur- work with putting an end to the NX- suit of Raniere and his wicked sex IVM's sex-slave ring of terror. cult activities finally resulted in the Parlato says he blew the whistle indictment of the "genius" NXIVM on Raniere's crimes to the FBI in master and guilty pleas from several 2015 and he followed that up with of his associates, including the rich Niagara Reporter Owner and Publisher Frank Parlato is photographed during the interview countless stories about the ritual and famous, leading to the trial that with Discovery Channel. sex abuse and branding activities ended with Raniere's conviction. called a secrety society of "sex "They (Investigative Discovery) in blog accounts and in newspaper During that trial, several wom- slaves" within the NXIVM com- have been in Niagara Falls working reports which finally succeeded in en testified they were branded with mununity near Albany. It took less on the special and I have spent days attracting the attention of federal Raniere's initials as part of their than five hours to convict Raniere with them," said Parlato. "They involvement in what prosecutors who faces up to life in prison when have done a great deal of prelimi- he's sentenced Sept. 25. Raniere is nary work and I will be traveling to expected to appeal, possibly with fi- various locations, including Alaska, anancial help from Clare Bronfman, Seattle, Los Angeles, Austin, and one of the Seagram's heiresses who Albany – former headquarters of bankrolled Raniere's cult and is now Nxivm, with them to try and capture on probation. the extent and yes, the still unknown But there is still much more to pieces, of this horrible tale of the report on the NXIVM story and In- brutal cult led by Raniere.” vestigation Discovery will produce The Discovery-owned true- a two-hour special on members of crime and mystery network Inves- the NXIVM cult who have either tigation Discovery selected Apple died or disappeared in a December Entertainment to produce the spe- special called "The Lost Women cial with the goal of taking viewers

The mark that Keith Raniere branded on more than fifty (50) women. of NXIVM," featuring the work of inside the active investigation to ex- Frank Parlato, that will be aired in plore what really happened to Kris- 150 countries. tin Snyder, Gina Hutchinson, and 3 NIAGARA REPORTER JULY 10, 2019 - JULY 16, 2019

Frank Parlato was relent- less in his coverage of the Mainstream Media Notes the Man NXIVM sex cult that brand- Who Took Down a Sex Cult ed and extorted women. Media from around the world cited Frank Parlato for his pioneering expose on NXIVM, the sex He did everything that he cult that branded women. Make no mistake about it, Parlato broke the story that led to the arrest could to expose the group and conviction of the leaders of this sinister cult. Over 400 media outlets named Parlato, not only in for what it was, including the USA, but the UK, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Israel, Switzerland, Italy, Venezuela, China and more. Here are excerpts: non-stop calls for the FBI to investigate the allega- New York Times: Many of Mr. Raniere’s followers learned of the secret society from a website tions (as seen here). For- run by a Buffalo-area businessman, Frank R. Parlato Jr. Mr. Parlato had been locked in a long legal tuantely, the FBI did listen battle with two sisters, Sara and Clare Bronfman, who are members of Nxivm and the daughters of Edgar Bronfman, the deceased chairman of Seagram Company. and Keith Raniere, along with other top lieutenants, Inside Edition: Former NXIVM publicist Frank Parlato has worked for years to document the inner including famed Smallville workings of the group, which purports to be a self-help organization. actress Allison Mack, were Oxygen: Frank F. Parlato, Jr., a newspaperman and blogger in upstate New York, spent years arrested in March of 2018. fighting to expose Keith Raniere, who is accused of branding and enslaving female followers of his In fact, Huffpost reported organization, NXIVM. that his arrest took place moments before he was Fox News: As pressure on Raniere and NXIVM began to mount following the revelations of brand- ing that were first exposed by Parlato and then in a lengthy piece inThe New York Times last year, to have group sex with the alleged cult leader fled to a $10,000 a week villa inside a luxury gated community in Puerto six such slaves that he Vallarta, Mexico, sometime between late October and early November. branded. New York Daily News: Frank Parlato, an ex-NXIVM publicist turned whistleblower, was the first to write about the group on his website Artvoice, and he's written extensively about it ever since. New York Post: Frank Parlato… first broke the story, in June, of women being forcibly branded as other women of the cult by tracking Glynn had on the iconic part of the NXIVM­ “sorority.” boat rides, resulting in a windfall down past members, informants and The Sun: The cult is called DOS, believed to be short for “dominus obsequious sororium" - Latin eyewitnesses. Frank Parlato will for the Canadian government and for the “master over the slave women”, and is the dark side of so-called "self-help" group NXIVM, according to Parlato - who was the first to lift the lid on the cult's sordid activities on his websiteThe be featured for his experience with a bigger return for New York State Frank Report. NXIVM as a former publicist and government. The Daily Mail: According to Frank Parlato, who first exposed Allison Mack as a member of Nx- for his tireless and extensive work Robin Milbrand has known ivm, the actress was a ‘pimp’ for Keith Raniere and was responsible for bringing young women to his ‘secret sex lair’, a two-floor house in Albany, New York with a huge bed and a hot tub. in revealing the full extent of the Frank Parlato for more than 40 Rolling Stone: Frank Parlato, NXIVM’s ex-publicist and a whistleblower, has stated that “Small- atrocities under Raniere's reign years, and he credits Parlato's suc- ville” actress Allison Mack, 35, is “CC-1” and he believes that she will likely be arrested shortly. It was Parlato's work several cess as a reporter to his ability to Hollywood Life: Frank Parlato, the journalist who first published the horrors of NXIVM … years ago as an investigative report- keep going no matter the odds. Vice: Frank Parlato was first to expose the alleged “sex cult” on his website before the New York er that ended the monopoly of the "No one can outthink him or out- Times picked up on the story last year. Maid of the Mist's owner Jimmy work him," said Milbrand, "it's that Vancouver Sun: Frank Parlato, author of the blog the Frank Report, …first wrote about the brand- simple. He won't ever quit." ings in June. Parlato has also appeared in publications around the globe, such as: The Epoch Times, Stern (Germany), Aristegui Noticias (Mexico), Cine Click (Brazil), Blasting News (Switzerland), Elle Discovery Channel Cont. from Cover (France), New Idea (Australia), Bravo TV (New Zealand), OE 24 (Austria), El Ciudadano (Chile), Kien Thuc (Vietnam), Tien Phong (Venezuela), La Prensa (Honduras), Dnevnik (Croatia), Haaretz channel. (Israel), Tibet Sun (China), RCN Radio (Columbia) and more. Parlato was instrumental in expos- ing the Albany-based self-help group that many feel is a cult. A spokesperson for Discovery said Parlato’s investigation will be a focus of the special. Investigation Discovery an- nounced that the special will premiere in December and was first announced “on the heels of the conviction of Keith veals a story far bigger and darker than Raniere for racketeering, sex trafficking ever suspected. and other crimes.” “With unique access to Frank Discovery’s release stated, “With Parlato and his more than 10-year in- layers still unraveling, this urgent and vestigation into NXIVM, layered with timely special explores what happened special testimony from a core of former to four women who were members of members speaking on the record for NXIVM who either vanished or died in the first time, this special explores how mysterious circumstances. each of the four women have connec- "Mixed in with the official ac- tions to the origins of NXIVM, taking counts of suicide or illness are con- viewers deeper into Keith Raniere’s tested evidence, allegations of tainted cult than ever before. police reports, and after years of “As the cryptic and chilling details investigation, one investigator believes, behind NXIVM continue to surface, murder. THE LOST WOMEN OF each revelation is more astonishing NXIVM takes viewers deep inside the than the last,” says Henry Schleiff, active investigation to explore what group president of Investigation Dis- really happened to Kristin Snyder, covery, Travel Channel, American He- Gina Hutchinson and other women of roes Channel and Destination America. NXIVM. “The time has finally arrived for Keith “Tracking down past members, Raniere to be brought to justice, and we informants and eyewitnesses, many at Investigation Discovery think it is going on the record for the first time, also time to help amplify the stories of this two-hour special takes us into new these women who will not be forgot- parts of the NXIVM universe and re- ten.” 4

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WEEKLY HEADLINES -Niagara Falls Police, while on patrol, observed a vehicle driving recklessly on 19th Street on July 1st, 2019. The car passed through several stop signs without stopping. Moments later the reckless driver crashed into a pick-up truck driven by a man visiting from Canada. After the crash, a male exited his vehicle and began to fight with the officer before running away. Police then engaged on a foot chase. About a half hour after the crash, the regis- tered owner of the striking vehicle reported that her vehicle stolen stating that she left it running in her garage before it was taken. Police are continu- ing to investigate the incident. -Niagara Falls Police responded at 1925 Main Street on July 3rd, 2019, af- ter receivng a call that a barefoot women went on a joy ride on the back of a flatbed tow truck after her vehicle was repoed from the 500 block of 20th Street overnight. The driver stopped in front of Niagara Falls Police Station at 1925 Main Street and waited for police to arrive. The driver reported that late evening hours of July 3rd, 2019, after reports that three armed men the woman had attacked and poked the tow truck driver in the hand as he were outside of his home threatening him. According to reports, the entire was repoing her vehicle. She then got onto the flatbed and refused to get story was fabricated and the 911 caller was so high on a combination of down. While this was going on the driver said that a group of people came drugs and alcohol that he imagined the entire thing. out of a house and began to approach him. Fearing for his life, the driver -Niagara Falls Police responded to Sammy's Pizzeria on July 6th, 2019, decided to get in his truck and leave the scene with the woman still on the after receiving reports that one of their delivery drivers had a half tray of flatbed. pizza after five males threatened him at an address on Pine Avenue. Police -Niagara Falls Police responded to 75th and Stephenson Avenue in the eve- are continuing to investigate the incident. ning hours of Wednesday, July 3rd, 2019, after receiving reports of 15-20 -Niagara Falls Police responded to the 3000 block of Highland Avenue juveniles fighting. According to reports, multiple people sustained injuries in the early morning hours of Saturday, July 6th, 2019, after reports of a and medical was requested to the scene. Reports further indicate that two shooting. According to reports, one male was shot in the leg and was trans- individuals were arrested at the scene. ported to ECMC for treatment. -Niagara Falls Police responded to Walmart on Military Road in the eve- -Niagara Falls Police responding to the 8700 block of Niagara Falls Bou- ning hours of Wednesday, July 3rd, after reports of a fight in the cheese levard in the afternoon hours of Sunday, July 7th, 2019, after receiving aisle. According to reports, no product was damaged during the altercation. reports of a naked man repeatedly running across the street. -Niagara Falls Police responded to the 900 block of Ontario Avenue in the 5 NIAGARA REPORTER JULY 10, 2019 - JULY 16, 2019

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Safety Committee Cont. old Thomas Payne arrived at City and it’s too early for the specifics of Hall with a van believed to be filled the group. with explosives. Although police did “I think to form the committee is not discover any explosives, they a first step,” said Common Council did find two loaded rifles. Alderman President Eric Zadzilka. “Defining At Large Robert Pecoraro put forth the committee will be based on the the resolution and says now is the chief’s recommendations. Such as time to act. who should be on it.” “I really don’t think us just Working on better access control talking about it and not acting is the in and out of City Hall is not some- right way to move forward,” said thing new. Mayor Art Pappas says Pecoraro. he has been wanting to make the It is not yet known who would building safer for years. be on the committee but it would be “I have made this suggestion as chaired by Pecoraro. He is a retired long as two or three years ago that Air Force colonel and says it will we really should be doing some- focus on two areas of safety. thing about additional security of “I first want to look at the phys- this building. This is an old building ical security of City Hall and other where there is easy access in and municipal buildings,” said Pecoraro. out. It is very open,” said Pappas. “The second piece of this is looking By vote of three to one the at the cyber security.” recommendation passed. Alderman He says he plans on meeting Mark Berube was absent from the with the police chief to work out meeting and Alderman-At-Large more details and says local residents Austin Tylec was the only dissent- will be updated on the progress on ing council member. the committee. “Throughout history things Not everyone on the council was happened because too many people agreement of the committee voicing failed to act and they only talked that more detail is needed. Others, about it. This is the time for action,” however, say this is just a first step said Pecoraro. Painters Plus Seeking Applications for 9th Annual Project Hope back to the community,” said owner Brendan McDonough of Painters Plus Jesse Gooch. “This is going to be our ninth year helping On August 31st a lucky homeown- families and each year it seems to get er in North Tonawanda will get their bigger and bigger.” house painted and spruced up. The best Applicants for Project Hope can be part, it’s for free! submitted three ways: It’s all part of the 9th annual Proj- (1) online at www.PaintersPlus.US ect Hope campaign, which stands for (2) Mail a letter to Painters Plus “Helping Others Paint Exteriors.” The at 800 Walck Road, North Tonawanda, event is held by Painters Plus Home New York 14120 Decorating and members of the Cham- (3) Pick up and application at ber of Commerce. North Tonawanda City Hall or the The winner will have their home Chamber of Commerce Office pressure washed, primed and painted at no cost to them. People picked for the Applicants are asked to write a program are a person or family member short paragraph about themselves and that is either disabled, elderly, suffering to explain their hardship or situation. financial hardships or a veteran. Last They area also asked to provide a year, for the first time, two homes were photograph of the house and a way in picked; one in Tonawanda and one in which they can be contacted. North Tonawanda. The deadline for submissions is “It’s such an amazing way to give August 16th, 2019. 7 NIAGARA REPORTER JULY 10, 2019 - JULY 16, 2019