Newly released U.S. Department of Justice documents expose how Brian Jeffrey Raymond, a former CIA collaborator and U.S. diplomat, used his official status to drug and assault at least 28 women across Mexico and other countries.

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Brian Jeffrey Raymond, a former CIA operative and U.S. embassy official in Mexico City, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in September 2024 for sexually assaulting dozens of women across multiple countries. Documents obtained by Mexican outlet Milenio reveal how Raymond weaponized his diplomatic status to evade accountability, exploiting victims through dating apps like Tinder and Bumble.

Raymond posed as a “first secretary” at the U.S. Embassy between 2018 and 2020, using his government-issued residence in Mexico City’s affluent Polanco district to lure victims. He presented himself as a trustworthy diplomat, a facade that disarmed women who later described him as “respectful and intelligent” before their assaults.

Victims testified that Raymond spiked wine, chocolates, and cheeses with sedatives like Valium during dates. Once unconscious, he filmed and photographed their assaults, amassing over 500 files of evidence later seized by the FBI. “My body looked like a corpse on his bed,” one survivor recounted in court transcripts.

Brian Jeffrey Raymond a former US gov’t employee, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for drugging and sexually abusing numerous women in multiple countries, including photographing and video recording nude and partially nude women without their consent. https://t.co/faBBWFUDc6

— Karol Cummins – New Acct (@karolcummins) September 26, 2024

In May 2020, after a victim screamed for help from his balcony, Mexican police detained Raymond but released him within hours due to diplomatic immunity. The survivor reported being blamed by officers: “They said it was my fault for meeting a stranger”.

U.S. authorities discovered Raymond’s crimes only after he returned to Washington, where digital evidence exposed assaults in at least nine countries. Survivors described lasting trauma, with one stating, “I felt ashamed-society judges victims, not perpetrators”.

A Global Pattern of Abuse

Raymond’s 23-year diplomatic career spanned 25 countries, including Peru and Spain, where similar assaults occurred. Prosecutors noted he leveraged his government role to create a “false sense of security,” enabling a 14-year spree of violence.

Following a 2023 guilty plea, Raymond was ordered to pay $10,000 to each victim. However, survivors emphasized that no compensation could undo the psychological harm. “I live with nightmares of myself dead,” one testified.

The case underscores how diplomatic privileges can enable sexual violence, with institutions often prioritizing reputations over victims. As U.S. officials praised Mexican cooperation, survivors demanded systemic reforms to prevent future abuses

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