National Roundup

New York
Fashion mogul  arrested in Canada on sex charges
NEW YORK (AP) — Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard was arrested on charges alleging he sexually abused women and girls after luring them into his orbit with opportunities in fashion and modeling over the last 25 years.

The 79-year-old Nygard awaited an appearance in a Winnipeg courtroom after his Monday arrest by Canadian authorities at the request of the United States. His lawyer, Elkan Abramowitz, declined comment.

His arrest on sex trafficking charges came after U.S. federal authorities raided Nygard’s Manhattan offices earlier this year.

The FBI raid came soon after 10 women sued Nygard, saying he enticed young and impoverished women to his Bahamas estate with cash and promises of modeling and fashion opportunities. Several plaintiffs in the suit, filed in New York City, said they were 14 or 15 years old when Nygard gave them alcohol or drugs and then raped them.

Nygard has denied all allegations and blames a conspiracy caused by a feud with his billionaire neighbor in the Bahamas.

In announcing criminal charges, authorities said Nygard used the prestige of an international clothing design, manufacturing, and supply business he founded and headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada, to persuade victims to submit to his demands.

According to an indictment, he capitalized on the Nygard Group’s influence, using its employees, funds, and resources to recruit women and girls under the age of 18. The indictment alleged that Nygard and his co-conspirators, including Nygard Group employees, used force, fraud, and coercion to enlist the women and girls, who were sexually abused and assaulted by Nygard and others.

Fifty-seven women, including 18 Canadians, have joined the lawsuit, which alleges that Nygard used violence, intimidation, bribery and company employees to lure victims and avoid accountability for decades.

The allegations in the criminal case mirror claims in a class-action lawsuit that Nygard used his company, bribery of Bahamian officials and “considerable influence in the fashion industry” to recruit victims in the Bahamas, United States and Canada.

It alleges he plied the young women with drugs and alcohol during “pamper parties” and kept a database on a corporate server containing the names of thousands of potential victims.

Nygard’s accusers had their passports taken from them when they were flown into the Bahamas, the lawsuit alleges, adding the designer “expected a sex act before he was willing to consider releasing any person” from his estate.

A spokesman for Nygard said earlier this year he was stepping down as chairman of Nygard companies and would divest his ownership interest.

Nygard International began in Winnipeg as a sportswear manufacturer. Its website says its retail division has more than 170 stores in North America.

Nevada
Reno man gets 25 years for gunshot that hit innocent teen
NEVADA (AP) — A Reno man who was serving parole for a violent crime conviction in California when he fired gunshots that severely injured an innocent teenage bystander in a nearby apartment has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Reno police say 32-year-old Carl Arthure Collins fired seven shots at a car as it drove off after he got into an argument with another person in January.

Collins missed the driver but one of the stray bullets hit a 14-year-old girl who was visiting a friend in the apartment building.

The girl underwent emergency surgery and survived but prosecutors say she still has a bullet lodged in her back.

Collins was arrested four days later in New Mexico.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced last week on one count each of battery with a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm, discharging a firearm at or into an occupied structure and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Collins was out on parole at the time after he was convicted of two violent felonies in California for battery causing serious bodily injury. He’ll be eligible for parole this time after serving a minimum of 10 years.

Washington
FBI won’t ‘sidestep’ sexual misconduct claims, says Wray
WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray is seeking to reassure agents that the bureau won’t tolerate sexual misconduct in the workplace, promising more resources for victims and full investigations into claims brought against FBI officials — “regardless of rank or title.”

Wray sent a lengthy statement to staff late last week following an Associated Press investigation that found at least six senior FBI officials, including an assistant director, were accused of sexual misconduct over the past five years, with allegations ranging from unwanted touching and sexual advances to coercion.

The AP found that none of the FBI officials it identified was disciplined and several were quietly transferred or retired, keeping their full pensions and benefits even when probes substantiated the sexual misconduct accusations against them.

In his statement, Wray reiterated the FBI’s “zero tolerance” policy towards sexual misconduct but also acknowledged “there are some that haven’t always lived up to those standards.”

“We won’t hesitate to impose severe sanctions where misconduct is substantiated, including revocation of security clearances and dismissal from duty,” Wray wrote. “We also want to make it crystal clear that victims and witnesses won’t be marginalized, ignored or retaliated against for bringing allegations against any FBI leader or colleague.”

The sexual misconduct has drawn the attention of Congress and advocacy groups, which called for new whistleblower protections for rank-and-file FBI employees and for an outside entity to review the bureau’s disciplinary cases.

Wray said he had directed the bureau’s associate deputy director “to explore ways to leverage the Victim Services Division and other components to provide necessary support and resources to victims of harassment or misconduct.”

“As leaders, we can’t — and won’t — ignore or sidestep this issue,” Wray added. “No one deserves unwelcome sexual misconduct or sexual harassment, and no one should suffer in silence or feel like they need to tolerate inappropriate or illegal behavior.”