Lawrence Ray, a 63-year-old man from Piscataway, New Jersey, has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for his role in a years-long scheme to manipulate and abuse students at Sarah Lawrence College and others.
The scheme, which lasted from 2010 to the present, involved Ray using physical and psychological abuse to control his victims’ minds and bodies, and then extracting millions of dollars from them. He forced one female victim to engage in commercial sex acts to pay damages to him that she did not actually owe, and he used physical violence against her, including tying her to a chair and nearly suffocating her with a plastic bag.
Ray also forced three female victims to perform unpaid labor on a family member’s property in North Carolina, and he laundered his criminal proceeds through an internet domain business and evaded paying taxes on his proceeds. He was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, violent crime in aid of racketeering, extortion, sex trafficking, forced labor, tax evasion, and money laundering offenses.
Lawrence Ray was sentenced on May 5, 2024, by United States District Judge Lewis J. Liman. In addition to the prison term, Ray was also sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release, and he was ordered to forfeit $2,444,349, the proceeds from the sale of his GoDaddy portfolio, and the Pinehurst, North Carolina, residence where the forced labor took place.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies that worked on the case, saying that the sentence will ensure that Ray will never harm victims again. Williams also commended the bravery of the victims who testified against Ray in court.
The case against Lawrence Ray highlights the dangers of predatory behavior and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes. It also serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance and awareness when it comes to protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation and abuse.
Lawrence Ray’s crimes have left a lasting impact on the victims and their families, and it is only through the tireless efforts of law enforcement and the justice system that he has been brought to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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