Who Is Larry Ray? All About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader
Larry Ray is an individual who was involved in a controversial case known as the “Sarah Lawrence sex cult.” However, it’s important to note that while Larry Ray was implicated in the case, he has not been convicted of leading a sex cult. My knowledge cutoff is in September 2021, and at that time, Larry Ray had been indicted on charges related to manipulation, extortion, and sex trafficking, among others. I don’t have any information on developments in this case beyond that point.
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The case revolves around allegations that Larry Ray manipulated and exerted control over a group of young adults who were students at Sarah Lawrence College, a liberal arts college located in Bronxville, New York. The group reportedly lived together in an off-campus residence, and Ray allegedly engaged in abusive and coercive behavior towards them.
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Who Is Larry Ray?
Lawrence “Larry” Ray gained notoriety as the leader of what has been referred to as the Sarah Lawrence “sex cult.” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams described him in harsh terms, emphasizing the extent of the abuse inflicted on his victims. Ray moved into his daughter’s dorm room at Sarah Lawrence College approximately twelve years ago and proceeded to meet a group of friends who were in the early stages of their lives. Who Is Larry Ray? All About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader. Over the next decade, Ray employed violence, threats, and psychological manipulation to exert control and wreak havoc on their lives. His actions involved exploitation, terrorization, and torture. In short, Williams characterized Ray as a predator an evil man who committed atrocious acts.
Following an investigation into the allegations against Ray, he was convicted on 15 criminal counts, including charges of sex trafficking, extortion, and racketeering conspiracy. Who Is Larry Ray? All About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader. The abuse occurred over nearly 10 years and spanned three different states. Ray’s victims included his daughter’s classmates and other acquaintances. Some victims were forced into prostitution, while others were subjected to threats of dismemberment. Ray even coerced and recorded false confessions from each victim, manipulating them into admitting to crimes they never committed.
In January 2023, Ray was sentenced to 60 years in prison. During the court proceedings, the judge commended the courage of Ray’s victims for confronting their abuser. The case initially gained attention when The Cut published an article on the matter, prompting a police investigation. Who Is Larry Ray? All About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader. The story has since been covered in Law & Crime’s “Devil in the Dorm” podcast and the Hulu docuseries titled Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence.
What happened at Sarah Lawrence?
Lawrence “Larry” Ray’s involvement with the students at Sarah Lawrence began in 2010, shortly after he served a six-month prison sentence for violating probation related to securities fraud. Who Is Larry Ray? All About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader. Prior to this, he had faced charges for interference with child custody due to his refusal to turn over his daughters during a scheduled visit, claiming he was protecting them from what he deemed an “abusive mother.”
Ray’s daughter, Talia, viewed him with reverence and considered him a wise and heroic figure who shielded her from her mother’s alleged abuse, as reported by The Cut. Upon his release from prison, he moved into Talia’s college dorm at Sarah Lawrence, along with her friends Santos Rosario, Daniel Levin, Isabella Pollok, and Claudia Drury. Who Is Larry Ray? All About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader.
Initially, the situation seemed peculiar to the students, but Ray gradually earned their trust and respect by offering what he called “therapy sessions” to help them with their problems, according to The Guardian. Who Is Larry Ray? All About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader.
In the following year, during summer vacation, Ray and the students relocated to an apartment on the Upper East Side. It was here that Ray’s abusive behavior escalated. According to the indictment, he employed a variety of manipulative tactics, including sleep deprivation, psychological and sexual humiliation, verbal abuse, threats of physical violence, actual physical violence, threats of criminal action, emotional alienation, and exploitation of the victims’ vulnerabilities related to their mental health.
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Through these abusive methods, Ray gained control over his victims, using them for monetary gain and other undisclosed purposes. Who Is Larry Ray? All About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader. The exploitation and manipulation continued for nearly a decade, spanning multiple states, with the victims trapped in a cycle of abuse and coercion.
How did Larry Ray profit off his victims?
Ray employed manipulative tactics to convince his followers that they owed him money, often by falsely accusing them of damaging his property, including various tools and machinery used for home renovations. Who Is Larry Ray? All About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader. As a result, he forced the students to engage in arduous manual labor to repay their alleged debts.
Furthermore, Ray resorted to extortion, targeting the parents of the students. In addition to making the students work off their debts, he would demand additional payments from their parents. Who Is Larry Ray? All About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader. Prosecutors estimated that Ray extorted around $1 million in total from at least five victims through false claims of property damage, as reported by the BBC.
Over time, some of Ray’s followers began to recognize the abusive nature of their situation and chose to leave the group. Daniel Levin severed contact with Ray in 2013, while Santos Rosario remained involved and was joined by his sisters, Yalitza and Felicia Rosario. Isabella Pollok and Claudia Drury also continued residing in the one-bedroom apartment with Ray. Who Is Larry Ray? All About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader. Pollok and Yalitza Rosario remained with Ray for an extended period and were referred to as his girlfriends, with Isabella sharing a bedroom with Ray.
Who Is Larry Ray? All About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader. Disturbingly, Ray forced Claudia Drury into prostitution, using coercive tactics to manipulate her. He convinced her that she had damaged his vacuum, consumed his food without permission, and even falsely claimed that she had attempted to poison him with cyanide, as reported by the New York Times. Who Is Larry Ray? All About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader. Drury, under duress, charged $2,000 per hour for her services. According to the BBC, her involvement in sex work generated approximately $2.5 million for Ray over the span of four years.
Where is Larry Ray today?
Larry Ray’s activities, ultimately leading to his arrest in February 2020. Ray was charged with 15 counts, including racketeering, extortion, violent assault, sex trafficking, forced labor, money laundering, and tax evasion, as detailed in court documents. His trial commenced in April 2022, and in January 2023, he was found guilty on all counts and subsequently sentenced to 60 years in prison.
During the trial, several of Ray’s victims provided testimony, bravely sharing their experiences. Some of them went on to document their stories in books and participated in documentaries. Who Is Larry Ray? All About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader. One of Ray’s victims, Daniel Levin, published the book “Slonim Woods 9: A Memoir” in 2021, shedding light on his ordeal.
Remarkably, only one of Ray’s victims, Isabella Pollok, has faced charges related to her involvement with Ray and the alleged crimes committed during that time. In March 2021, Pollok was charged with racketeering, extortion, and sex trafficking conspiracies, according to Newsweek. Who Is Larry Ray? All About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader. While she was the last to leave Ray’s side, they eventually went their separate ways as their legal troubles intensified. beipoatz In September 2022, Pollok pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy. She is scheduled to be sentenced in February and could face a maximum prison term of five years for her involvement.
Larry is currently in prison
The publication of a feature in New York Magazine in 2019 triggered an FBI investigation into Larry Ray’s activities, ultimately leading to his arrest in February 2020. Who Is Larry Ray? All About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader. Ray was charged with 15 counts, including racketeering, extortion, violent assault, sex trafficking, forced labor, money laundering, and tax evasion, as detailed in court documents. His trial commenced in April 2022, and in January 2023, he was found guilty on all counts and subsequently sentenced to 60 years in prison.
During the trial, several of Ray’s victims provided testimony, bravely sharing their experiences. Some of them went on to document their stories in books and participated in documentaries. Who Is Larry Ray? All About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader. One of Ray’s victims, Daniel Levin, published the book “Slonim Woods 9: A Memoir” in 2021, shedding light on his ordeal.
Remarkably, only one of Ray’s victims, Isabella Pollok, has faced charges related to her involvement with Ray and the alleged crimes committed during that time. In March 2021, Pollok was charged with racketeering, extortion, and sex trafficking conspiracies, according to Newsweek. Who Is Larry Ray? All About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader. While she was the last to leave Ray’s side, they eventually went their separate ways as their legal troubles intensified. In September 2022, Pollok pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy. She is scheduled to be sentenced in February and could face a maximum prison term of five years for her involvement.
Larry lied about his military service
Larry Ray would captivate Talia’s friends and eventual cult members with elaborate tales of his military service and work with the CIA. According to The Cut, Ray claimed to have served in the United States Air Force for a mere 19 days, although there are no official records to substantiate this claim. Who Is Larry Ray? All About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader. Furthermore, despite his assertions, there is no evidence to support his alleged service in the Marines.
Ray also asserted that he had contracted with the CIA and boasted about his role in initiating a cease-fire in Kosovo. To lend credibility to his claims, he would present a letter written on NATO letterhead to anyone who questioned him. Chris Donnelly, the NATO official who wrote the letter, confirmed his recollection of Ray’s presence but clarified that Ray was merely connected and may have made some calls on behalf of others involved in the operation. Donnelly explained that he provided the letter as a courtesy for anyone involved in the initiative.
In essence, Larry Ray wove a web of fabricated military and intelligence service stories to bolster his image and maintain a façade of credibility among his followers. However, upon scrutiny, the lack of official records and the limited substantiation of his claims cast doubt on the veracity of his alleged military and CIA connections. Who Is Larry Ray? All About the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader.
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