A private equity executive faces serious allegations after being indicted for raping and assaulting six women in his Manhattan apartment over a five-month period.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office revealed a 116-count indictment against Ryan Hemphill, 43, which includes charges of predatory sexual assault, rape, and assault.
The charges stem from incidents alleged to have commenced on October 3, and Hemphill was arrested on March 1.
Since his arrest, he has been held in jail and appeared in court for his arraignment on Thursday, where he pleaded not guilty.
Judge Ann E. Scherzer subsequently ordered Hemphill to remain jailed without bail.
District Attorney Alvin Bragg emphasized the severity of the allegations, stating, “The defendant told these survivors that he was untouchable.”
Bragg insisted that the indictment makes it clear that Hemphill’s belief in his immunity was misplaced.
According to prosecutors, Hemphill allegedly exploited his wealth and power to perpetrate violent acts against his victims.
The indictment details horrifying allegations; women were reportedly beat, drugged, threatened with guns and knives, and subjected to physical and sexual violence for hours.
Further shocking claims suggest that Hemphill used unconventional means of control, including a shock collar, a cattle prod, and he even recorded sex acts on video throughout his midtown apartment.
Authorities executed a search warrant at Hemphill’s residence, discovering high-capacity magazines, hundreds of bullets, a cattle prod, extensive quantities of drugs, and surveillance cameras containing footage of numerous women.
Bragg noted, “We have reason to believe that there may be more survivors,” implying that the investigation could uncover additional victims.
He further stated that video footage may include “dozens, if not hundreds of women.”
Allegations against Hemphill also suggest that he presented himself as an attorney with significant connections, asserting that because the women accepted money he offered, they risked being arrested instead.
In one instance, prosecutors allege he proposed a $2,000 payment to a woman in return for her dropping a police complaint against him.
Furthermore, it is claimed he forced the women to create videos ostensibly consenting to the sex acts, presenting this material as a means to establish deniability in the event they reported him.
Bragg highlighted the clear power imbalance displayed in Hemphill’s predatory actions.
Many of his alleged victims met him online, where he allegedly promised substantial sums of money in exchange for sexual favors; however, in many cases, he either failed to pay or compensated them with fraudulent currency.
Interestingly, in 2015, Hemphill was acquitted of charges involving choking and threatening a former girlfriend with a knife.
If convicted on the current charges, Hemphill faces a potential life sentence in prison.
During the arraignment, Hemphill’s public defender requested a transfer to a rehabilitation facility to address substance abuse concerns, but the judge determined that imprisonment was necessary to ensure he returns for future court appearances.
Scherzer cited the behavior outlined by prosecutors, stating it illustrated the lengths Hemphill would go to protect himself from accountability for his actions.
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