DOCSLIB.ORG

Chilton Avenue Residents Want to Know

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Chilton Avenue Residents Want to Know FREE JAN 21 - JAN 29, 2016 VOL. 17, NO. 03 FREE Chilton Avenue Residents Want To Know 2 NIAGARA FALLS REPORTER JAN 21 - JAN 29, 2016 Sensible Business Or Sweetheart Deal? Chilton Avenue Residents Want To Know Mike Hudson Niagara Falls – A city-owned Chilton Avenue apartment house set to be sold to a volunteer member of the Dyster administra- tion for $500 was never advertised as being for sale, and no sign was ever posted on the front lawn describing it was such. Instead, Community Development Di- rector Seth Piccirillo placed a small legal notice in the classified section of the Niagara Gazette asking for a Request For Proposals (RFP) to develop the property. Why? The move all but ensured that the building would be purchased by a develop- er rather than a private individual, who may have lived in it while doing renovations. The RFP notice contained no minimum bid amount, and may have been seen by just The Chilton Ave. small apartment house has been in disrepair for some time. one person, Karen Mock of Keller Williams Karen Mock Realty in North Buffalo and a member of values ranging from a low of $21,000 to a borhood better and making this city better be- Dyster’s Healthy Community Committee. high of $60,000. cause I live here,” Mock said. She submitted the lone bid of $500. The city Planning Board approved the Buffalo developer Mark Hamister made Mock’s partners in Develop Niagara The 3,160 square foot brick building, at deal last week similar statements back in 2013 about those have not been publicly identified, nor have 631 Chilton Ave., has an assessed value of City resident Diane Tattersall told the questioning his proposal to build a downtown the addresses of the other properties owned $37,261, according to records at City Hall. Niagara Gazette that news of the sale is circu- hotel here. He has yet to back out of the deal, by the firm, which would give a better un- And it comes with a $40,000 reimbursable lating in the neighborhood. Criticism for the but there has been no sign that any hotel will derstanding of what sort of development the grant for renovations. The property was gifted highly unusual marketing strategy are arising be built. company does. to the city by Wells Fargo bank. too as well. The Chilton property was gifted to the Mock said she was asked by Piccirillo This isn’t Mock’s first experience with “I encourage the planning board to ex- city by Wells Fargo bank. Included in the and city Councilman Charles Walker to sit buying property from the city. In 2013, mem- amine all aspects, start to finish, of the partic- donation was a $40,000 reimbursable grant on the housing subcommittee of the Healthy bers of the Niagara Falls City Council unan- ulars of this transaction,” Tattersall said. for renovations. It sits in the middle of a Community Committee, and added that she imously approved the sale of a city-owned Ron Anderluh of the Niagara Street Area two-street Historic District created by Dyster was a surprised as anyone she was able to get property at 435 Memorial Parkway to Mock Business Association, characterized the price in 2009, which also included Dyster’s own the Chilton Avenue building at such a bargain for $500. as “very, very low” while addressing mem- street, neighboring Orchard Parkway. basement price. That seven-bedroom, two-and-a-half bers of the planning board during last week’s Additional funding is available through “I didn’t think it would still be available, bath brick structure has an assessed value of meeting. And former Niagara Falls City various government agencies to property I’m so surprised there wasn’t other people in- $44,047. In other words, over the past two School Board member Don King, a resident owners there who want to renovate in a his- terested,” Mock said. “We want to renovate it years, Mock has been able to pick up Niag- of Chilton Avenue, probed the board over a torically correct fashion. and make it nice. It’s beautiful, on a beautiful ara Falls real estate assessed at more than minimum bid requirement, which the request The formal approval of the sale will be street.” $81,000 for $1,000 and qualify to get an addi- lacked. brought before the Niagara Falls City Council Piccirillo said it was only natural that tional $40,000 grant in the bargain. Mock responding by saying that if she on Jan. 28. someone on Dyster’s committee would want Piccirillo said that Mock plans to spend feels she is being unjustly scrutinized, or “at- Piccirillo said he had confidence in the building. $100,000 on renovations for the Chilton Av- tacked” she will pull aside her interest in the Mock and her company, Develop Niagara, “It doesn’t surprise me that someone enue property, although a survey of homes project and not move forward. which owns 22 properties in Erie County in involved in the group was interested in that currently listed or recently sold at 616, 621, “I have an interest in making the neigh- addition to those in Niagara Falls. He said the vacant property,” he said. “But I don’t think 634 and 666 Chilton shows nearby property company will be bound by contract to submit there’s a headline —member gets a sweet- a rehab plan in two months, and renovations heart deal — that’s really not the case.” would need to be completed within a year. Piccirillo said a meeting will be set up NIAGARA FALLS REPORTER “We are sensitive to the neighbors. We between the developer and members of the want this to be a positive for the street,” he Chilton Avenue Block Club to facilitate a told the Gazette. “We want to work with the relationship between the new owners and neighboring residents. “The Truth is Always Fair” developer on renovations … and enter into an agreement where there would be a clawback “We will not bring it to city Council un- if they don’t do what they said they were go- til that conversation happens,” he said. “And CHAIRMAN & EDITOR IN CHIEF ing to do. We see that as the most responsible if Chilton says they don’t like it, we won’t Frank Parlato role to take.” bring it to Council.” Managing Editor Senior Editor Dr. Chitra Selvaraj Tony Farina phone: (716) 284-5595 PO Box 3083, Niagara Falls, NY 14304 email: [email protected] www.niagarafallsreporter.com All contents copyright ©2015 Niagara Falls Reporter Inc. 631 Chilton NIAGARA FALLS REPORTER JAN 21 - JAN 29, 2016 3 Niagara Falls Taxpayers Will Pay To Host Great Lakes Conference Dyster Given $75,000 Blank Check To Spend As He Likes was ascertained and what percentage of the $96,000 will be spent in the city. It is however reasonable to assume that spending $75,000 of taxpayer money to bring in $96,000 is not a profitable model. Consider: if you sold $96,000 worth of goods and services and had to pay $75,000 in taxes on it. When you subtract the cost of goods and employees you would be losing money. The Gazette reports the “conference will coincide with the Falls’ annual Jazz and Blues Festival.” How these two unrelated events will help each other is unclear. It is possible that the $96,000 in spend- ing assumes that the 118 conference attendees (who are using taxpayer dollars from their own cities to get here) will attend the jazz and Conference to be held in Niagara Falls to discuss the Great Lakes; Mayor blues festival and purchase beer and other Dyster will host. Taxpayers will give him a $75,000 slush fund to spend as he concessions there. pleases. The conference has a mission which is to “integrate the agendas of social, environmen- tal and civic institutions as they attempt to safeguard the economic and ecological integ- The city of Niagara Falls will “official- on the city’s website so that the public is in- rity of the Great Lakes,” according to the Ga- ly play host” to the 2016 Great Lakes-Saint formed in advance. zette. “The cities initiative, as a whole, works Lawrence Cities Initiative annual conference A walk-on is typically used when sud- with officials and lawmakers to help ensure this June. den, urgent business crops up or, in the case that integrity at the global, regional and local City taxpayers will officially foot the bill. of non transparent elected officials, when they levels.” The conference will host 118 U.S. and want to minimize public awareness and dis- Andrea Czopp, a communications man- Canadian representatives, including represen- cussion on a matter. ager at the NTCC, called the event “presti- tatives from Niagara Falls, who will gather Mayor Paul Dyster and representatives gious.” to eat, drink, network and discuss economic of the taxpayer-supported Niagara Tourism “We’re excited about showing off our and ecological matters pertaining to the Great and Convention Corp. presented their sur- city,” she said. Lakes. prise “memorandum of understanding” for It is unknown if taxpayers feel as excited A last minute “walk-on resolution” by the conference – which required approval by as she does. the mayor ensured city taxpayers will help the council since it required taxpayer money fund the gathering. to be spent. The mayor asked the Niagara Falls City Four of the 5 council members approved Council to set aside $75,000 to pay for un- the taxpayer expense.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 18-Cr-204(Ngg)
    Case 1:18-cr-00204-NGG-VMS Document 138 Filed 09/18/18 Page 1 of 4 PageID #: <pageID> UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK X UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, MEMORANDUM & ORDER -against- 18-CR-204(NGG) KEITH RANIERE, ALLISON MACK,CLARE BRONFMAN,KATHY RUSSELL,LAUREN SALZMAN, AND NANCY SALZMAN, Defendants. X NICHOLAS G. GARAUFIS, United States District Judge. Defendants Keith Raniere, Allison Mack, Clare Bronfman, Kathy Russell, Lauren Salzman, and Nancy Salzman have been indicted on charges arising from their participation in Nxivm, an organization that was allegedly a criminal enterprise. (Superseding Indictment(Dkt. 50) 1-40.) At a status conference on September 13, 2018, the Government moved to designate this case as complex pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(B)(ii). tSee Tr. of Sept. 13, 2018, Hr'g ("Hr'g Tr.")(Dkt. Number Pending)4:24; Sept. 11,2018, Gov't Letter (Dkt. 129) at 3-4.) All Defendants oppose the Government's motion. (See Sept. 12, 2018, Defs. Letter (Dkt. 131) at 1.) For the following reasons, the court GRANTS the Government's motion and designates this case as complex. I. DISCUSSION "The Speedy Trial Act requires that a defendant be tried within seventy days of the unsealing ofthe indictment or his initial appearance before a judicial officer, whichever occurs later." United States v. Naseer. 38 F. Supp. 3d 269,275 (E.D.N.Y. 2014)(citing 18 U.S.C. § 3161(c)(1)). This seventy-day period is flexible. Id Courts may, for various reasons, exclude certain periods of time from the calculation of the speedy trial period.
    [Show full text]
  • (ESP) Archives – Cult News
    12/7/2015 Cult NewsExecutive Success Programs (ESP) Archives ­ Cult News Cult News Sponsored by the Cult Education Institute Home Getting HelpContactAboutWhat's NewHeadlinesLinksBooksHelp UsFAQ2012 Nov 16 Is Keith Raniere trying to re­brand his business with a new name? DaAdmin Executive Success Programs (ESP), Miscellaneous Add you comment It appears that purported Albany, New York “cult” leader Keith Raniere (photo below), known to his followers as “Vanguard”, may be re­branding his business again. Raniere, a failed multi­level marketing guru, now runs a large group awareness training (LGAT) company. First his business was called Executive Success Programs (ESP), then NXIVM (pronounced nexium) and now it seems the latest name being used is “Ethilogia“. The Ethilogia Web site claims it’s “the path of the ethicist” and teaches “value based decision making”. However, in a 2003 article titled “Cult of Personality” Forbes Magazine described Keith Raniere as the “world’s strangest executive coach” and quoted one of his former clients who labeled his company a “cult”. This year reporter James Odato of the Albany Times­Union won an Associated Press award for his investigative series “Secrets of NXIVM” exposing the seamy side http://www.cultnews.com/category/executivesuccessprogramsesp/ 1/32 12/7/2015 Cult NewsExecutive Success Programs (ESP) Archives ­ Cult News of Raniere’s life and business. The Ehtilogia Web site states, “At the core of this course of study is a patent­pending technology called Rational Inquiry”. This “technology” is described as a process of “emotional training” that affects “decision making” accomplished through “inner breakthroughs”, which are “like working out in an “emotional” gym.” The site says, “Achievements are possible because the very foundation of a person’s human experience”one’s belief system”will be completed and integrated.” Interestingly, what the new Ethilogia Web site doesn’t mention is Keith Raniere, despite the fact that he is the creator of Rational Inquiry.
    [Show full text]
  • Keith Raniere Complaint
    Case 1:18-mj-00132-LB Document 1 Filed 02/14/18 Page 1 of 22 PageID #: 25 AL:MKP/TH F. #2017R00588 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ---------------------------X TO BE FILED UNDER SEAL UNITED STATES OF AMERICA COMPLAINT AND AFFIDAVIT IN - against - SUPPORT OF ARREST WARRANT KEITH RANIERE, also known as "The Vanguard," (18 U.S.C. §§ 1589(a)(2), 1589(a)(4), 1591(a)(l), 1594 (b), 1594(c), 2 and 3551 Defendant. et seq.) ---------------------------X EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, SS: MICHAEL LEVER, being duly sworn, deposes and states that he is a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, duly appointed according to law and acting as such. In or about and between February 2016 and June 2017, both dates being approximate and inclusjve, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the defendant KEITH RANIERE, together with others, did knowingly and intentionally conspire to recruit, entice, harbor, transport, provide, obtain, maintain, patronize and solicit persons, to wit: Jane Does 1 and 2, individuals whose identities are known to the undersigned, in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce, knowing that means of force, threats of force, fraud and coercion, as described in Title 18, United States Code, Section 159l(e)(2), and one or more combinations of such means, would be used to cause such persons to engage in Case 1:18-mj-00132-LB Document 1 Filed 02/14/18 Page 2 of 22 PageID #: 26 2 one or more commercial sex acts, contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 1591 (a)(l ).
    [Show full text]
  • CLARE BRONFMAN, Defendant. NICHOLAS G. GARAUF
    Case 1:18-cr-00204-NGG-VMS Document 936 Filed 09/30/20 Page 1 of 27 PageID #: <pageID> UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK UNITED STATES, SENTENCING -against- MEMORANDUM CLARE BRONFMAN, 18-CR-204 (S-3) (NGG) Defendant. NICHOLAS G. GARAUFIS, United States District Judge. This sentencing statement concerns Defendant Clare Bronfman, who entered a plea of guilty to a superseding information, pursuant to a plea agreement, on April 19, 2019 to one count of Conspiracy to Con- ceal and Harbor Aliens for Financial Gain, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §§ 1324(a)(1)(A)(v)(I) and 1324(a)(1)(B)(i) and one count of Fraudulent Use of Identification, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1028(a)(7), 1028(b)(1)(D), and 1028(c)(3)(A). CALCULATION OF OFFENSE LEVEL & GUIDELINES RANGE The Probation Department recommends that I calculate the Total Of- fense Level for Ms. Bronfman’s sentence as 17. (Presentence Investigation Report (“PSR”) ¶ 141.) Ms. Bronfman challenges two as- pects of the Probation Department’s suggested calculation. First, she argues that a three-level increase pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2L1.1(b)(2)(A) is not warranted because the offense of conviction on Count One did not “involve[] the smuggling, transporting or harboring of six or more unlawful aliens.” (See Def. Sentencing Mem. (“Def. Mem.”) (Dkt. 915) at 26-33.) Second, she argues that a two-level increase pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(c) is not warranted because her role in the offense of conviction on Count One was not as “an organizer, leader, manager, or supervisor in criminal activity.” (See id.
    [Show full text]
  • NXIVM Sex Cult!
    Cold Open: The NXIVM Sex Cult! Founded by Keith “Creepy Ass Super Punchable Face” Raniere [ruh near ee] in 1998 - at its height, this NXIVM had NOTHING to do with acid reflux medication and counted thousands of members, including celebrities, heirs and heiresses who all paid thousands, and sometimes MILLIONS of dollars to attend a never-ending series of classes at various NVIXM training centers. Lying at the intersection of a multi-level marketing scheme, a self-help group, and occasionally a summer camp, NXIVM was a true cult. For a few die hards… it kind of still is. People started publicly worrying about how dangerous this cult might be all the way back in 2003. But it wouldn’t be until 2017, when the New York Times published an article about one of its former members being literally BRANDED like cattle as a part of an initiation into a secret sex cult within NXIVM, that the group’s true and terrible practices would be brought into the light and exposed. We’ll meet some people - seemingly ordinary people - that so desperately wanted someone to lead them to enlightenment that they allowed themselves to be slowly manipulated into paying to participate in weirder and weirder “exercises” until they finally agreed to be actual slaves. And part of, basically, a harem. We’ll meet Keith Raniere [ruh near ee], the devious and perverted mastermind at the center of all of this, who used his experience at Amway - a Michigan-based multi-level marketing company - and then borrowed a lot from Scientology, to make people think that he was some kind of once-in-a-lifetime guru spiritual Jedi who had the answer to all of your - and all of the WORLD’S - problems.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Not for Publication United States District Court
    Case 2:06-cv-01051-KSH-CLW Document 642 Filed 12/30/16 Page 1 of 21 PageID: <pageID> NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY NXIVM CORPORATION, f/k/a/ EXECUTIVE SUCCESS PROGRAMS, INC., and FIRST PRINCIPLES, INC., Civil No. 2:06-1051 (KSH) (MF) Plaintiffs, v. ESTATE OF MORRIS SUTTON, ESTATE OF ROCHELLE SUTTON, THE ROSS INSTITUTE, RCK ROSS a/k/a/ “RICKY ROSS,” STEPHANIE FRANCO, PAUL MARTIN, PH.D., and OPINION WELLSPRING RETREAT, INC., Counterclaim-Defendants. RICK ROSS., Counterclaim-Plaintiff, v. KEITH RANIERE, NANCY SALZMAN, KRISTIN KEEFFE, INTERFOR, INC., JUVAL AVIV, JANE DOE, and JOHN DOES 1-10, Counterclaim-Defendants. 1 Case 2:06-cv-01051-KSH-CLW Document 642 Filed 12/30/16 Page 2 of 21 PageID: <pageID> INTERFOR, INC. and JUVAL AVIV, Crossclaimants, v. NXIVM CORPORATION., KEITH RANIERE, NANCY Counterclaim-Defendants. Katharine S. Hayden, U.S.D.J. These matters come before the court by way of summary judgment motions by defendants and counterclaim defendants arising from a set of related events and facts. This case has a long history in the District of New Jersey and elsewhere, and has been the subject of failed mediations and numerous judicial rulings. Not surprisingly, the docket reflects a host of filings. This Court has carefully reviewed the docket and this opinion addresses all open dispositive motions. For ease of reference, the Court has compiled a chart, immediately below. See Figure 1 and Figure 2. The take-away from an exhaustive review of interlocking personal feuds undertaken by the undersigned and other judicial officers, is that those issues suitable for trial that are identified in this opinion will be promptly tried.
    [Show full text]
  • SCANLON, M.J. COI.JNT ONE (Sex Trafficking - Jane Does 1 and 2)
    MKM:MKP/TH F. #2017R01840 ZBIBAPR l9 Pl{ tr: 19 T]NITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK x LTNITED STATES OF AMERICA INDI CTMENT - agalnst - Cr 04 (r. .c., s 5 axl), KEITHRANIERE, 1s91(a)(2), 15el(bxl), 1 594(a), also known as "Vanguard," and 1594(b), 1s94(c), 1s94(d),2 and 3551 ALLISONMACK, et geq.; T. 21, U.S.C., $ 853(p)) Defendants GARAUEIS, x J. THE GRAND JURY CI{ARGES: SCANLON, M.J. COI.JNT ONE (Sex Trafficking - Jane Does 1 and 2) l. In or about and between February 2016 and June 2017, both dates being approximate and inclusive, within the Eastem District of New York and elsewhere, the defendants KEITH RANIERE, alsO known as "Vanguard," and AILISON MACI! together with others, did knowingly and intentionally: (1) recruit, entice, harbor, transport, provide, obtain, advertise, maintain, patronize and solicit one or more persons, to wit: Jane Does 1 and 2, individuals whose identities are known to the Grand Jury, in and affecting interstate and foreip commerce, and attempt to do the same; and (2) benefit, and attempt to benefit, financially and by receiving a thing of value,.from participation in a venture which had engaged in such acts, knowing that means of force, threats of force, fraud and coercion, and a 2 combination ofsuch means, would be used to cause such persons to engage in one or more commercial sex acts. (Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1), 1591(a)(2),1591(bX1), 1594(a), 2 and 3551 et sgq.) COIINT TWO (Sex Traffi cking Conspiracy) 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Barbara Bouchey and Kristin Keeffe March 24, 2015
    Barbara Bouchey and Kristin Keeffe March 24, 2015 Kristin: I don’t have a lot of time so I want us to talk about your case. We can catch up about other things after we get this squared away because you have your hearing tomorrow. So what do you want to tell me? What’s going on, what’s the hearing for tomorrow? I have all kinds of ideas and things that I want to share with you, but you want to just catch me up? Barbara: The email’s pretty straightforward. I decided to just voluntarily hand myself in. Kristin: Right, that part I understand. Barbara: So, the thing is that when I was on the phone with Roger and he asked me if I logged on, I admitted that I did once in January, and I looked at the social and workshop calendar, and the testimonials. And, that’s all I did. And, he confirmed that, in fact, he had activity logs in front of him and that that is all that I did, and that I didn’t look at anything proprietary. And, apparently, they had gotten an affidavit from Svetlana, and Svetlana got scared when they called her. She was led to believe she couldn’t give out her name and password. So, she told them that she has never logged on to the best of her recollection and doesn’t remember things. And so, of course that’s not true. The other thing is that the audiotape—I was a resident of Washington and Roger at the beginning of the call mentioned that he knew that I had moved out of New York State.
    [Show full text]
  • 20200922-12 CB Sentencing Response
    UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, - v. - No. 18-cr-204 (NGG) (VMS) CLARE BRONFMAN, Defendant. CLARE BRONFMAN’S RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNMENT’S SENTENCING MEMORANDUM Ronald S. Sullivan, Jr., Esq. Ronald Sullivan Law, PLLC 1300 I Street, N.W. Suite 400 E Washington, D.C. 20005 (202) 935-4347 Duncan Levin, Esq. Tucker Levin, PLLC 230 Park Avenue, Suite 440 New York, New York 10169 (212) 330-7626 Attorneys for Defendant Clare Bronfman TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................1 CLARE IS CONTRITE, REMORSEFUL, AND DEEPLY SORRY FOR HER OFFENSE CONDUCT .....................................................................................................................................3 CLARE DID NOT FUND OR PROMOTE ANY CRIMINAL ACTIVITY BY KEITH RANIERE OR ANYONE ELSE: CLARE DID NOT FUND A SEX CULT ...........................4 OFFENSE CONDUCT ................................................................................................................16 A. The government is attempting to enlarge the criminal activity by alleging more than one victim and more than six aliens .............................................................................16 B. The government misstates a key fact related to the parole and omitted key facts ..............................................................................................................................17 C. The government incorrectly
    [Show full text]
  • Brooklvnofbce F
    Case 1:18-cr-00204-NGG Document 50 Filed 07/23/18 Page 1 of 24 PageID #: 322 23 20® ^ ★ iUL MKM:MKP/TH/KKO brooklvnofbce F. #2017R01840 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK X UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SUPERSEDING INDICTMENT - against - Cr. No. 18-204(NGG) (S-1) KEITH RANIERE, (T.18,U.S.C., §§ 981(a)(1)(C), also known as "Vanguard," 982(a)(2)(B), 982(b)(1), 1028(b)(5), CLARE BRONFMAN, 1028(f), 1349,1591(a)(1), 1591(a)(2), ALLISON MACK, 1591(b)(1), 1594(a), 1594(c), 1594(d), KATHY RUSSELL, 1962(d), 1963,2 and 3551 Mm;T. LAUREN SALZMAN and 21, U.S.C., § 853(p); T. 28, U.S.C., NANCY SALZMAN, § 2461(c)) also known as "Prefect," Defendants. X THE GRAND JURY CHARGES: INTRODUCTION At all times relevant to this Superseding Indictment (the "Indictment"), unless otherwise indicated: The Enterprise 1. The defendant KEITH RANIERE, also known as "Vanguard," was the founder of several pyramid-structured organizations ("the Pyramid Organizations"), including, but not limited to,(1) Nxivm, Executive Success Programs, Inc., Ultima and other related entities (collectively,"Nxivm"); and (2) an organization referred to as "DOS," the "Vow" and "the sorority"(collectively, "DOS"). In leading the Pyramid Organizations, RANIERE relied on certain individuals, sometimes referred to as his "inner circle," who Case 1:18-cr-00204-NGG Document 50 Filed 07/23/18 Page 2 of 24 PageID #: 323 were accorded special positions of trust and privilege with RANIERE and who carried out his directives. 2. Members of RANIERE's inner circle also held high positions in one or more ofthe Pyramid Organizations, including serving as executives, directors and officers of Nxivm.
    [Show full text]
  • FBI Should Investigate Bronfmans and Cult Leader Keith Raniere
    FREE NOV 19 - NOV 25, 2015 VOL. 16, NO. 44 FREE FBI Should Investigate Bronfmans and Cult Leader Keith Raniere 2 NIAGARA FALLS REPORTER NOV 19 - NOV 25, 2015 FBI Should Investigate Bronfmans and Cult Leader Keith Raniere: Part I The Hairy Raniere Gina Melita Rhiannon Followers, mostly female, have described headquartered near Albany that promised lu- invited her and her husband to his Albany area Frank Parlato him as a “soft-spoken, humble genius” and crative commissions to old customers for re- headquarters. some of these consider him to be like a Christ cruiting new ones. By the end of 1993 Raniere According to her interview in Metroland, lare and Sara Bronfman, heirs to the or Buddha born to save humanity. claimed he sold $1 billion in goods and ser- Natalie said, “Before I knew it, he had me con- Seagram’s liquor fortune, and pur- Raniere has a penchant for attractive, af- vices, employed 80 people and had a 250,000 vinced that my husband was cheating on me Cported cult members, filed a complaint fluent women and apparently teen and pre-teen members paying $15 a month for the right to and was having an affair with my nanny. It was against me with the FBI claiming I defrauded girls. sell his goods. He claimed he was worth $50 all a lie . the next thing I knew, I was divorced them out of $1 million. In 1984, Raniere, 24, took 15-year-old million. and living in Albany”. The federal government is actively investi- Gina Melita’s “virginity in a dark room, her T- One of his saleswomen had a 12-year- Natalie soon became Raniere’s girlfriend gating whether the Bronfmans are my victims.
    [Show full text]
  • Case 1:18-Cr-00204-NGG-VMS Document 925 Filed 09/18/20 Page 1 of 86 Pageid #: 16118
    Case 1:18-cr-00204-NGG-VMS Document 925 Filed 09/18/20 Page 1 of 86 PageID #: 16118 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK 18-cr-204 (NGG) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA -against- KEITH RANIERE, Defendant. SENTENCING MEMORANDUM ON BEHALF OF KEITH RANIERE BRAFMAN & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Attorney for Defendant Keith Raniere 767 Third Avenue New York, NY 10017 Tel: (212) 750-7800 Fax: (212) 750-3906 MARC A. AGNIFILO Of Counsel DEROHANNESIAN & DEROHANNESIAN 677 Broadway – Ste. 707 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: (518) 465-6420 Fax: (518) 427-0614 PAUL DEROHANNESIAN II Of Counsel Case 1:18-cr-00204-NGG-VMS Document 925 Filed 09/18/20 Page 2 of 86 PageID #: 16119 1. Introduction Keith Raniere continues to assert his complete innocence to these charges. He does, of course, recognize that a jury convicted him of very serious crimes, ironically crimes that he and others in NXIVM have been seeking to prevent others from committing for many years. The jury’s verdict, however, did not reflect the quality of the evidence, but rather was a product of a media campaign involving witnesses who were motivated to testify falsely, a heavy-handed prosecution that threatened potential defense witnesses and, most respectfully, an unfair trial where, we believe, the Court was not provided with full, candid information from the prosecution. Therefore, Mr. Raniere objects to this Court moving this matter on to sentencing because of these significant violations of his due process rights, as well as perjury by critical witnesses1 and threatening actions taken by the Government toward potential defense witnesses,2 events that individually and in combination defeated his right to a fair trial.
    [Show full text]