A MAGA influencer known for posting sensationalized videos of homeless people in San Francisco was indicted Tuesday on federal charges of producing child sex abuse material.
Ricci Wynne, 39, known as Raw Ricci to his more than 100,000 Instagram followers, was first arrested in November and charged with pimping and pandering by procuring, HuffPost previously reported. He was taken into custody alongside a woman shortly after arriving at San Francisco International Airport.
The influencer was already being investigated by San Francisco police at the time of his November arrest and was named a suspect in the sexual assault of a 15-year-old, according to The San Francisco Standard. Authorities say they found evidence on Wynne’s cellphones and at his luxury apartment that indicated he was facilitating a sex work operation that spanned multiple cities.
Wynne pleaded not guilty to those charges, according to the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.
On Tuesday, however, a federal grand jury indicted Wynne on two counts of producing child pornography, according to an indictment obtained by HuffPost.
The document accuses Wynne of producing child sex abuse material in April and October 2022 with two different minors. He is currently in federal custody, and if convicted, he would face a maximum of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Wynne built a social media following as a purported hard-on-crime activist by filming homeless people, sometimes harassing them, and showing drug use in San Francisco’s SoMa and Tenderloin districts. He has appeared on Fox News as a guest on “Jesse Watters Primetime” and “Tucker Carlson Tonight.” According to the news network, Wynne appeared six times, most recently in 2023.
ICC chief prosecutor accused of punishing staff who leaked sexual misconduct claims – Reuters
UN investigators have expanded their inquiry into alleged sexual misconduct by International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, to include allegations of reprisals against staff, Reuters has reported. Khan has firmly denied all allegations.
Sources cited by the outlet claim that Khan, who is being investigated for alleged sexual harassment of a female subordinate, demoted at least four staff members after they reported or expressed concerns about the incident. The investigation, led by the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), is reportedly examining the claims.
Khan’s legal representatives have rejected all allegations, stating he “looks forward to cooperating fully and transparently with the external investigation” and insisting that he “has not engaged in sexual misconduct of any kind and nor, to be clear, has he engaged in any ‘retaliatory behaviour’ as alleged.”
The ICC has confirmed the initiation of an external investigation into Khan’s alleged misconduct. Despite the ongoing inquiry, Khan, the court’s chief prosecutor since 2021, has continued to oversee investigations, including those related to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
In February, he was sanctioned by the US after the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Khan’s assets in the US have been frozen and he is banned from traveling to the country.
Khan has characterized the allegations as part of a misinformation campaign against his office, which he says has been the target of "a wide range of attacks and threats."
When one's judgment is impaired by political or racial bias, one can expect some pushback.
The ICC has the authority to prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the crime of aggression committed either within its 125 member states or by their nationals. However, major powers such as the US, Russia and China, are not parties to the court and do not recognize its decisions.
Russell Brand charged with rape, sexual assault of 4 women in U.K.
The charges stem from an investigation into the actor and comedian, which began in September 2023, after several alleged victims came forward.
“The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers,” Det. Supt. Andy Furphy said in a statement. “The Met’s investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police.”
According to Deadline, the investigation was sparked by allegations reported by Channel 4 and The Sunday Times in 2023, when four women came forward to report being sexually assaulted or raped by Brand. The accusers have not been identified.
The Get Him To The Greek actor has denied the allegations, saying his relationships were “always consensual.”
Authorities allege that Brand raped a woman in Bournemouth in 1999, indecently assaulted a woman in 2001 in Westminster, London, orally raped and sexually assaulted a woman in Westminster in 2004, and sexually assaulted a woman in Westminster between 2004 and 2005.
Brand has denied similar assault and abuse claims in the past. He is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on May 2.
Known for his unbridled and risqué standup routines, Brand hosted shows on radio and television, wrote memoirs charting his battles with drugs and alcohol, appeared in several Hollywood movies and was briefly married to pop star Katy Perry between 2010 and 2012.
In recent years, Brand has largely disappeared from mainstream media but has built up a large following online with videos mixing wellness and conspiracy theories. He recently said he had moved to the United States.
Brand appears to have been born again about a year ago. The change has been astonishing. He has been sharing what he learns from the Bible almost daily and it appears what he is learning does indeed require the presence of the Holy Spirit to learn.
According to Grok: Russell Brand announced his intention to be baptized as a Christian in late April 2024. He shared this decision in a video posted to social media on April 26, 2024, describing it as an opportunity "to die and be reborn." His baptism took place on Sunday, April 28, 2024, in the River Thames, marking his formal conversion to Christianity. Since then, he has been vocal about his faith journey, reflecting on it in various updates, such as a video a month later in May 2024, where he discussed the changes he experienced as a new Christian.
While God has apparently forgiven him of the ultimate consequence (eternal death) for his sins, he is still liable for the immediate consequences. It will be interesting to see how he responds to the charges as a Christian. It could be a very big test of his faith. One of the greatest, most famous Christians of the 20th century, Watchman Nee, spent the last 20 years of his life in a Mao work camp for preaching Christ in China.
Jaswant Narwal, of Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service, said prosecutors “carefully reviewed the evidence after a police investigation into allegations made following the broadcast of a Channel 4 documentary in September 2023.
“We have concluded that Russell Brand should be charged with offences including rape, sexual assault and indecent assault,” Narwal said.
“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds everyone that criminal proceedings are active, and the defendant has the right to a fair trial.”
In January the BBC apologized to staff members who felt unable to complain about Brand’s conduct because of his celebrity status. Brand had two weekly radio shows on the BBC from 2006 to 2008 and worked periodically on a number of short-term projects.
The BBC acknowledged that it was “clear that presenters have been able to abuse their positions” in the past.
— With files from The Associated Press
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or is involved in an abusive situation, please visit the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime for help. They are also reachable toll-free at 1-877-232-2610.
No comments:
Post a Comment