A former staff member at the US Embassy in Mexico allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted at least 23 women over the past decade, federal investigators say.
Brian Jeffrey Raymond, 44, is being investigated after photos and video footage of the reported encounters were uncovered from a bedroom in his Mexico City apartment, according to court documents obtained by the Daily Beast.
The pictures and video showed several women who were unconscious and a man waving their limp arms and legs, holding open their eyelids and even putting his fingers in their mouth, in an apparent attempt to demonstrate they are unconscious. A number of them also show a nude Raymond, while others reportedly show him aroused.
Raymond’s position at the Mexico City embassy remains unknown. He was sent there in 2018 and there are very few traces of him yet on the internet, authorities said.
Court documents also note that Raymond was fluent in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese and had worked in six other countries prior to arriving in Mexico City.
Raymond has “exerted power and control over unconscious women,” according to a court motion. Authorities described his actions in the filing as “evidence of his unique ability to portray a very different public face.”
The incident that started the feds’ investigation into Raymond happened this past May, when police in Mexico City showed up at his apartment after several reports of a naked woman on the balcony in distress.
Police found the woman was so intoxicated that she couldn’t stand. Police detained Raymond, despite him claiming the encounter was consensual.
He returned to the United States the following day — but while there, federal agents seized his personal and work phones.
The forensic search of Raymond’s devices turned up hundreds of photos and videos of naked, unconscious women being abused. The investigators also revealed searches for things such as “passed out black girl,” “deep sleep,” “Ambien and alcohol and pass out,” “dissolve,” and “passed out and carried.”
Prosecutors believe Raymond continued using dating apps to meet women, even after he knew he was under investigation.
Federal authorities found a number of communications between Raymond and various women who apologized for blacking out, inquiring if they had sex, or saying their memory of the night before was hazy.
Police arrested Raymond earlier this month in La Mesa, California, where he had been staying with his parents after quitting his job. He is being charged with one count of coercion and enticement.