A former private equity executive is facing serious accusations in Manhattan, alleging that his New York City apartment was used as a site for extreme sexual violence. The man, Ryan Hemphill, is charged with sexually assaulting six women over a five-month period, with claims that he subjected them to horrific acts including abuse with a cattle prod and waterboarding. These acts were allegedly documented with recordings kept as trophies.
Hemphill, who remains incarcerated following his arrest last month, has denied the charges contained in a 116-count indictment. The charges span multiple crimes, including predatory sexual assault dating back to October of the previous year. The 43-year-old, who is also a lawyer by profession, allegedly intimidated his victims by threatening incarceration or disappearance to keep them from reporting the crimes.
The District Attorney of Manhattan emphasized that Hemphill believed himself to be above the law, a notion the indictment challenges. During court proceedings, Hemphill remained quiet as his charges were laid out in stark detail. If found guilty, he could spend his lifetime behind bars. Notably, Hemphill was acquitted in a past incident in 2015 related to an alleged violent confrontation.
The case’s prosecutor suggested there are potentially numerous other victims, given the scale of the images and videos found in Hemphill’s apartment, which was equipped with extensive surveillance technology. These materials depicted many women who appeared naked and blindfolded, raising concerns about the number of his victims.
In addition to visual evidence, searches revealed a cache of bullets, high-capacity firearms magazines, and a variety of illicit drugs, according to prosecutors. Hemphill reportedly met these women through several websites catering to those seeking wealthy partners, where he lured them with promises of money for submissions to his sexual desires.
Offering large sums of money, he failed to fulfill these promises, sometimes paying with counterfeit money. The prosecution described how Hemphill would exploit personal stories of trauma shared by his victims, reenacting those traumas during the assaults. He manipulated victims, some inexperienced, and violated previously discussed consensual boundaries.
The allegations against Hemphill are graphic, including cases of administering incapacitating substances and using physical restraints such as duct tape, handcuffs, and other tools for torture. One victim reportedly endured hours of restraint, pleading for release. Hemphill’s actions reveal a flagrant disregard for laws and victims, using intimidation tactics to suppress reporting.
He allegedly claimed ties to law enforcement and criminal networks to dissuade victims from speaking out, suggesting that accepting money could result in their arrests. The indictment also includes charges of witness bribery, with claims of Hemphill attempting to pay off a victim to drop charges. Additionally, some victims were coerced into appearing in videos to affirm consent to abuse.
The District Attorney discussed the stark power imbalance in these cases, with Hemphill abusing his privileges, leveraging his education and wealth to dominate and silence victims. The court proceedings took place in close proximity to where another high-profile sexual assault case was being retried.
In light of his wealth and connections, there were concerns of Hemphill potentially evading justice by fleeing, prompting the court to deny bail. Hemphill’s representation argued for moving him to a rehabilitation facility to address substance abuse, but the judge deemed detention mandatory to ensure court appearances, noting a pattern of using threats and coercion to derail justice.
The judge underscored that Hemphill’s alleged actions reveal lengths he might go to avoid facing the pending charges. This case continues to unfold as his legal team prepares for a defense against the serious accusations he faces.