Former US diplomat pleads guilty to raping, drugging, photographing dozens of women over 14 years

A former U.S. diplomat has pleaded guilty to sexual abuse and photographing and recording dozens of nude and partially nude women without their consent during his 14-year career as a U.S. government employee.

The employee, Brian Jeffrey Raymond, 45, of La Mesa, Calif., also admitted to abusive sexual contact with numerous women, the Justice Department said Friday. 

Raymond was most recently employed by the federal government in the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, Mexico. He left the country after an adult woman was seen May 31, 2020 nude and screaming for help from his balcony. The woman reported she had no memory of events after consuming drinks and food provided by Raymond, the department said.

"Brian Raymond betrayed the trust granted to him as a U.S. government employee representing the United States abroad by engaging in years of predatory conduct sexually abusing, exploiting, and recording vulnerable women he targeted in the United States and around the world," said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the department’s Criminal Division.

Law enforcement agents recovered hundreds of photographs and videos depicting over 20 unconscious and nude or partially nude women from Raymond’s cell phones, iCloud account, and other electronic devices. 

Raymond created these materials starting at least as early as 2006 and continuing up until May 30, 2020, the department said.

The women experienced memory loss during their time with Raymond and had no knowledge of the photographs, videos, or physical contact. 

In the plea agreement, Raymond admitted he engaged in sexual intercourse with two of the victims depicted in the recordings when both were incapable of appraising the nature of the conduct or consenting to it.

The offenses occurred on May 30, 2020, and March 26, 2020, in Raymond’s embassy-leased residence in Mexico City. Additionally, Raymond admitted that over the course of 14 years he recorded and/or photographed at least 24 unconscious and nude or partially nude women and touched the breasts, buttocks, groin area and/or genitalia of numerous women while they were incapable of consent, the department also said.