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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
He Was Called the 'Eunuch Maker' — and What He Did With the Body Parts Afterward Was Unthinkable
To Marius Gustavson, it was business. To Britain's Crown Court, Gustavson's 'gruesome and grisly' body manipulation enterprise was criminal. Gustavson, a 46-year-old Norwegian national, was sentenced to life in prison in 2024 in England after he was arrested for running a controversial body manipulation service, which often included live streaming himself while abusing the bodies of other human beings who paid him to do it. According to the BBC, Gustavson's website advertised his unlicensed services to provide castration, the freezing of limbs, and other amateur procedures, such as removing nipples and human tissue. The self-described 'Eunuch maker' even branded some paying victims with his nickname's initials 'EM,' a British court heard in May 2024 when he was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 22 years served. During his sentencing hearing, prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC said there was 'clear evidence' of cannibalism, according to The Guardian. She described how Gustavson had prepared human testicles as part of a "salad" and stored various body parts in a refrigerator at his home as "trophies." Six others were sentenced for aiding Gustavson and his haphazard body mutilation practice, which primarily took place in hotel rooms and in front of others who paid to watch online, according to The Crown Prosecution Service. Roughly 20,000 subscribers paid to watch along as Gustavson mutilated his customers without any proper medical training or oversight, sometimes using kitchen knives and tools meant for animals, The Standard reported. Some of Gustavson's victims were as young as 16 years old, according to the outlet. 'Gustavson was involved in at least 22 procedures including the removal of victims' testicles, the amputation of penises, clamping of testicles with burdizzo clips (ordinarily used by vets in the castration of cattle), and the insertion of needles into genitalia,' the CPS said at the time. 'He was assisted by another defendant to place his own leg in dry ice which later required amputation meaning he was able to secure disability benefits.' The former Norwegian postal service worker's pay-per-view mutilation website was 'lucrative,' according to prosecutors, who told the British court Gustavson earned nearly 300,000 pounds between 2017 and 2021, when he was forced to close shop and later detained. Gustavson eventually pleaded guilty to 'five counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, making an indecent image of a child, four counts of distributing indecent images of a child, possessing extreme pornographic images, and possessing criminal property,' prosecutors said. In April 2025, his attempt to appeal his conviction was overturned by a London court, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE. In the appeal, Gustavson's attorney argued his sentencing was unfair given the fact that 'those who underwent the modifications consented to what was done to them.' One victim testified during Gustavson's 2024 trial that he was 'mesmerized' by the 'Eunuch Maker' and his streams, but admitted he had regrets after going through with a procedure in which he had his testicles clamped while he was strapped to a bed and subjected to electric shocks before being branded with Gustavson's signature 'EM' marking. "I realize I have trusted a wrong person and Gustavson is in fact a lunatic,' the man said, according to The Standard. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Gustavson's defense attorney argued during his sentencing that in addition to carrying out a paid service, the 'Eunuch Maker' was in some ways making people more comfortable in their bodies having dealt with his own body dysmorphia, which ultimately led him to start the pay-per-view website. "He does say he wished to put a smile on other people's faces - he wanted to help,' Gustavson's attorney said, according to BBC. "He was stuck in a body he wanted to make changes to, and understood there were more people out there who wished to do the same." But British authorities didn't see it that way. CPS London Specialist Prosecutor Kate Mulholland alleged Gustavson carried out the mutilations primarily for 'sexual gratification and financial gain' while ignoring 'the risks of performing unnecessary surgery on vulnerable men.' "He actively recruited participants through his website and was paid to stream the footage of these barbaric procedures,' Mulholland said after Gustavson was sentenced to life in prison. "Performing extreme body modifications is against the law and the CPS won't hesitate to prosecute these horrendous crimes." Read the original article on People
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Ex-sheriff's deputy convicted in 2016 NFL rape case moved to halfway house
A former Louisiana sheriff's deputy who admitted in 2016 that he raped a woman drugged by serial rapist Darren Sharper – the ex-National Football League champion – has been transferred from federal prison to a halfway house as he approaches the completion of his sentence. At the culmination of what was once a nationally prominent criminal case, Brandon Licciardi, 40, pleaded guilty in federal and state courthouses in New Orleans to assisting Sharper's efforts during prior years to surreptitiously drug women's drinks with sedatives or anti-anxiety medication so as to rape them. Licciardi also acknowledged raping a woman whom Sharper had drugged and was subsequently sentenced to 17 years in federal prison. Licciardi served time at the federal correctional institution in Seagoville, Texas. And on 16 April, he was released into the supervision of the Dallas residential re-entry management office, where he would be either under house arrest or living in a halfway house, a spokesperson for the US bureau of prisons told the Guardian. The prisons bureau spokesperson declined additional comment, citing privacy, safety and security reasons. But information on the local sex offender registry listed Licciardi's address as a halfway house in New Orleans, which is only about eight miles away from the St Bernard parish, Louisiana, sheriff's office where he used to park. Licciardi's place of employment was listed as a business to which his father – who for years was a top-ranking St Bernard deputy – has ties. Many people sentenced to federal prison can become eligible for release after serving about 85% of their punishments, according to government officials. Those sent to a halfway house generally are required to find a job and may be allowed to drive or use a cellphone for employment purposes. And they can also get recreational passes or be moved to confinement in a private residence, all of which are clear indications that they are almost done with their punishments. A statement from Licciardi's attorney, Brian Capitelli, said, 'Brandon … has served his sentence and is trying to move forward with his life.' The date provided for his release from the custody of the federal prisons bureau was 20 April 2026. Licciardi was working an off-duty detail when he met and befriended Sharper in 2010, the year after the former ballplayer had helped the New Orleans Saints win their first – and so far only – Super Bowl championship. According to a summary of the case against him that prosecutors prepared and he signed, Licciardi went to Sharper's condominium in New Orleans in February 2013 to rape a woman who had been drugged by Sharper while she modeled at a party two days before the Super Bowl was played in the city that year. Licciardi then introduced a woman he knew to Sharper in late 2013 and – the woman having been drugged – took her to a hotel across the street from the former NFL pro's condo. Sharper raped her there, Licciardi indicated in court. At a party three weeks later, Licciardi introduced a friend – a former Saints cheerleader – to Sharper, who soon drugged that woman and raped her at his condo. Sharper at his condo that night also raped another woman whom he had drugged. And the two women also endured sexual batteries committed by a friend of Sharper and acquaintance of Licciardi: Erik Nunez, then a steakhouse waiter and self-proclaimed event promoter. The former cheerleader soon went to police and reported that she had been raped, leading to Sharper's arrest in Los Angeles in early 2014. Licciardi and Nunez, 38, were arrested later and accused of trying to conceal incriminating text messages, photos and videos. In 2015, Sharper pleaded guilty or no contest in local courts in Louisiana, California, Nevada and Arizona to charges that he drugged and raped – or tried to rape – numerous women in the four states between August 2013 and his arrest. He also pleaded guilty in New Orleans's federal courthouse to helming the drugging and rape conspiracy involving Licciardi and Nunez. Sharper, 49, remains imprisoned at the federal correctional institution in Elkton, Ohio. As of Tuesday, he had a release date tentatively set for late December 2028. His attorneys more recently argued that he deserved to be re-evaluated for a release prior to that date, maintaining in part that he had taken a number of educational classes during his imprisonment and had proven himself to be 'a model inmate'. 'He also serves as a tutor and has assisted countless adults in getting their' high-school equivalency diplomas, Sharper's attorneys wrote in court. Licciardi resigned from his deputy job in late 2014 before pleading guilty. New Orleans's Times-Picayune newspaper reported that it took Louisiana's police licensing board until its final meeting of 2023 to permanently revoke the credentials allowing Licciardi to work as a law enforcement officer in the state. Nunez was released from prison in July 2023 and – as of Tuesday – was listed as working at a construction company while on active probation. Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organizations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at
CBC
24-05-2025
- CBC
Winnipeg man charged with defrauding Inuit org of $2.2M
A 23-year-old man has been charged with defrauding the Qikiqtani Inuit Organization of over $2 million in November last year. Emma Tranter explains.
Bloomberg
23-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Andrew Left's New Lawyer Says Case Doesn't Fit Trump Priorities
Short seller Andrew Left is making a new push to sway the US Justice Department to drop fraud charges filed against him last year, hiring a former federal prosecutor to make fresh arguments directly to the Trump administration. The strategy hinges on convincing the Justice Department that the case against Left isn't in line with President Donald Trump's enforcement priorities. It's an argument that could gain traction with a department that has already dropped some criminal cases as a result of the president's directives.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Finland court give date for hearing of Simon Ekpa case
Di Päijät-Häme District Court for Finland don set date to begin di hearing of criminal case against a former municipal politician from Lahti wey dey identified as Simon Ekpa. Dis na afta di Office of the Prosecutor General for Finland bin confam to BBC Pidgin say dem charge di suspect (Ekpa) wit 'public incitement to commit a crime wit terrorist intent'. Di district court for Finland tell BBC Pidgin say di defendant (Ekpa) dey for detention and hearing for im case go start for end of May 2025. Dis na according to Ulla Ristola wey be di District Secretary for di District Court of Päijät-Häme. According to di District Court of Päijät-Häme for dia document wey BBC Pidgin get, di hearing go last several days and di prosecutors applications for summons, and di defendant written response go dey public for 30 May 2025 "Päijät-Häme District Court go begin hearing a criminal case concerning terrorist crimes, on 30 May 2025. Di defendant for di case na former municipal politician from Lahti, wey currently dey pretrial detention." Di District Court say di defendant dey "charged wit public incitement to commit a crime wit terrorist intent, participation for di activities of a terrorist group, aggravated tax fraud and violation of di provisions of di Attorneys Act." Päijät-Häme District Court through di district secretary say di trial go begin wit a preparatory session on 30 May 2025. "Di main hearing go den begin on di same day, and dey expected to last several days. Di trial go dey at least largely public." BBC Pidgin gada say na panel of three judges go hear and decide di case. Di charges against Simon Ekpa Finnish Deputy Prosecutor General bin charge promoter of di Indigenous People of Biafra Simon Ekpa wit inciting terrorism online. Di Finland National Prosecution Authority say Ekpa allegedly commit di offence for Lahti between 2021 and 2024. Di Office of the Prosecutor General for Finland also add say dem dey suspect aggravated tax fraud join di charges. "Di charges dey related to di suspect activities wey dey aimed at establishing di so-called Biafra region of Nigeria as an independent state," Finland Office of the Prosecutor General tok. "Di Deputy Prosecutor General don file charges against a Finnish individual for a case wey involve suspected public incitement to commit a crime wit terrorist intent and participation for terrorist group." "Di alleged acts dey committed for Lahti between 2021 and 2024, along wit related alternative charges and suspected aggravated tax fraud." Also, Mikko Laaksonen wey be di Senior Detective Superintendent of Finland National Bureau of Investigation tell BBC Pidgin say di charges filed against Ekpa include contribution to activities of terrorist group. "Prosecution don file charges against Simon Ekpa wit contributing to di activities of a terrorist group and public exhortation to an offence wit terrorist intent." According to di National Prosecuting Authority, dem say di charged individual (Ekpa) dey for custody and "e don deny say im commit di crime." We don reach out to Simon Ekpa lawyer, Kaarle Gummerus to get im side of di tori wey we receive from di Finland authority and how dem dey react to am. More tori on Simon Ekpa dey here:
