On Wednesday, 62 year old Lawrence Ray was found guilty of extortion, sex trafficking, and racketeering conspiracy.
It begin in 2010, after Lawrence Ray was released from a New York prison for a child custody dispute.
Ray moved in with his daughter Talia Ray, who lived on the campus of Sarah Lawrence in Westchester County.
It is said that Lawrence Ray charmed his way into his daughters- friends lives; revealing exciting events from his past and even cooked for the students.
Once Ray realized that the students were under his spell; his cult and wicked ways began.
During trial, four victims came forward expressing the tortuous incidents they faced with the New York man. From forcing a young woman to become a prostitute, to threatening to dismember a man with a knife. One victim recalled a story where Ray held her captive while strangling her with a plastic bag for hours leaving her gasping for air.
When asked why they would allow such torturous events to occur; the victims explained that Ray convinced them that they were poisoning him, and destroying hundreds and thousands worth of his property.
The victims explained that Ray stated he had friends in the law enforcement with high power, and they could potentially go to jail for a very long time. In order to avoid consequences, victims paid Ray anywhere between $10,000 to $2.5 million over a four year time span.
Ray successfully carried out his crimes with the help of his daughter and Isabella Pollock before victims came forward.
Pollock pleaded not guilty and is currently awaiting trial later this year, and his daughter has not been charged.
Lawrence Ray is set to be sentenced in September. If convicted he could face 15 years in prison.
