[Based on reports from Dianne Lipson and others in the courtroom today]
The verdict came in. Keith Alan Raniere was found guilty on all counts.
Mark Vicente and Susan Dones were in the courtroom. Barbara Bouchey, Catherine Oxenberg, and Toni Natalie were there.
Judge Nicholas Garaufis came in wearing his robes [something he often did not do during the trial. He said on the first day of trial, while wearing his robes, that he does not like to wear robes, and asked the jury not to think he did not think this case was important just because he might not wear his robes. He often did not wear his robes.] But today he wore his robes.
When the defendant, Keith Alan Raniere, AKA Vanguard came in, he was busy talking to one of his lawyers, Paul DerOhannesian.
Keith looked serious. He knew the jig was up. His lawyers later admitted that they spoke to Keith before he came in and they advised him that, due to the ultra-fast decision by the jury – they had deliberated less than five hours [and that included lunch] – that this looked quite grim.
Keith looked a little down, depressed. Maybe even scared.
All rose for the jury- who walked in. They were not looking at Keith. They went to their accustomed seats, where they have sat through 25 days of trial – all in the presence of Raniere.
But they did not look at him. That was not a good sign either.
And Keith did not look at the jury, either. He was looking intently at the judge.
Each of the charges was read by the bailiff. The foreman was the spokesman for the jury.
He answered each and every one of the charged counts exactly the same –‘”Guilty.”
And as per count #2 – when each of the racketeering predicate acts was read, the foreman answered each one exactly the same – “Proven.”
When count #2 was read, and the foreman said, “Guilty,” Keith, perhaps involuntarily, nodded and began his fade to red.
As each additional charge was read and he was found to be guilty of each, Keith’s face became redder and redder and he seemed to get smaller, and smaller, – it appeared to be so – the redder he got, the smaller he seemed – while he kept hearing the same answers over and over again.
Imagine the scene:
Bailiff: As to count two, racketeering, how do you find the defendant?
Foreman: Guilty.
Bailiff: Since you answered, “Guilty” as to Count Two, indicate whether the following Racketeering Acts
were proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Racketeering Act 1, 1A (Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft – Ashana Chenoa)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 1B (Conspiracy to Unlawfully Possess Identification Document)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 2 (Sexual Exploitation of a Child on November 2, 2005 – Camila)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 3 (Sexual Exploitation of a Child on November 24, 2005 – Camila)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 4 (Possession of Child Pornography – Camila’s photos)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 5, 5A (Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff: 5B (Identity Theft – James Loperfido)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff: 5C (Identity Theft – Edgar Bronfman)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 6 (Conspiracy to Alter Records for Use in an Official Proceeding)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 7 (Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft – Marianna)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 8, 8A (Trafficking for Labor and Services – Daniela)
Foreman: Proved
Bailiff 8B (Document Servitude – Daniela)
Foreman: Proved.
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 9 (Extortion)
Foreman: Proved.
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 10, 10A (Sex Trafficking – Nicole)
Foreman: Proved.
Bailiff: 10B (Forced Labor – Nicole)
Foreman: Proved.
Bailiff: Racketeering Act 11 (Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft – Pamela Cafritz)
Foreman: Proved.
Bailiff: As to Count One, Racketeering Conspiracy. How do you find the defendant?
Foreman: Guilty.
Bailiff: As to Count Three, Forced Labor Conspiracy. How do you find the defendant?
Foreman: Guilty.
Bailiff: As to Count Four, As to Wire Fraud Conspiracy. How do you find the defendant?
Foreman: Guilty.
Bailiff: As to Count Five, Sex Trafficking Conspiracy. How do you find the defendant?
Foreman: Guilty.
Bailiff: As to Count Six, Sex Trafficking of Nicole. How do you find the defendant?
Foreman: Guilty.
Bailiff: You find the defendant guilty as to Count Six. Do you find that the defendant knew means of force, fraud or coercion would be used to cause one or more persons to engage in one or more commercial sex acts?
Foreman: Yes.
Bailiff: As to Count Seven, Attempted Sex Trafficking of Jay. How do you find the defendant?
Foreman: Guilty.
All the while this questioning and answering by the bailiff and the foreman was going on, Keith continued to look straight at the judge.
After the foremen finished his last answer of “guilty”, the judge asked each of the individual jurors, one by one, starting with juror number 2, he said, “Juror Number 2, do you agree with this verdict?”
As the judge asked each juror, Keith looked at the jurors.
Each of the jurors – from number two to number 12, in turn, answered yes.
The case was officially over.
Before he dismissed the jury, the judge thanked them for their professionalism and said they were excellent citizens. He said, “We’re honored by your participation in this trial.”
All rose for the jury. The jury left to resume their lives, anonymous. Free from having to explain their decision, unless of course, they choose to do so.
Keith Alan Raniere AKA Vanguard was immediately handcuffed by US Marshals – who seemed a trifle too pleased with their last act in the courtroom in his trial. They handcuffed the Vanguard and led him away, to his new role, now and forever, as a convicted felon, sequestered – by walls and bars – from those he had preyed upon and others who he would have preyed upon had this day not occurred.
Sentencing will be September 25, 2019. He faces life in prison.