Peter Nygard arrested, faces extradition to U.S. on sex assault, racketeering charges

Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard is in custody in Winnipegand is facing anine-countindictment in the United States on charges of racketeering, sex traffickingand related crimes.

The 79-year-old was taken into custody Monday in Winnipeg by RCMP and city police after the United States asked Canadato issue a warrant under the two countries' extradition treaty.

The charges relateto "adecades-long pattern of criminal conduct involving at least dozens of victims in the United States, the Bahamas, and Canada, among other locations," according to theU.S. Attorney's Office for theSouthern District of New York.

The FBI, who raided Nygard's offices in New York and Los Angeles in Februarythis year, requested the arrest warrant.

A dishevelled-looking Nygard,who is currently being held at the Winnipeg Remand Centre, appeared in court Tuesday afternoon with his long hair in a bun. Hisfeet and hands were shackled and he worea grey sweatshirt and grey track pants.

Nygard's lawyer, Jay Prober,asked for a publication ban.

Scott Farlinger, representing the Attorney General of Canada, opposed it, saying publication bans are issued in Canada to protect theaccused's right to a fair trial, which doesn't apply in this case as the trial will be held in the U.S.

He also said the U.S. State Department hadalready issued a press release, outlining the details of the charges against Nygard.

After a brief break, Justice Sheldon Lanchberydenied the request for thepublication ban, saying that anopen court is important and that there is no evidence additional publicityin this case would impact Nygard's right to a fair trial in the U.S.

Lanchbery said Nygard will be held at the remand centre in Winnipeguntil his next court appearance on Jan. 13.

Prober saidhe wouldapply for bail for his client before that date.

"The survivors of our lawsuit have been waiting for this day for a very long time," Lisa Haba, one of the lawyers representing victims who are suing Nygard alleging rape and sexual assault, told CBC News.

WATCH | Women describeencounters with Nygard (Warning: contains graphic details):

Breaking their silence

4 years ago

Duration 15:38

Two Canadian women have come forward to say they were raped by fashion designer Peter Nygard. An investigation by The Fifth Estate confirms key elements of their allegations are backed up by witnesses, confidants, family members, and in one case, an RCMP officer. Nygard says their stories are false and a lie.

"Peter Nygard's arrest marks the next chapter in holding him and his accomplices accountable for the unspeakable crimes against women and children they have perpetuated for decades. We will continue to seek justice."

The FBI is urging anyone who believes they area victim of the sexual abuse perpetrated by Nygard to contact them at 1-800-CALLFBI. (1-800-225-5324)

A total of 57 women have joined a class-action lawsuit accusing Nygard of rape, sexual assault and human trafficking in some cases the allegations goback as far as 1977.

It was filed earlier this year in New York.

The lawsuit also namesa number of upper-level Nygard company executives, officers and directors who are accused of enabling the sex assaults.

The class action was put on hold in August whena judge presiding over the case in the Southern District of New York entered a stay of proceedings, court records show.

A stay of proceedings means the case has been put on hold, but it doesn't mean it's been dropped. The court can later lift the stay and continue the proceedings.

"On behalf of the dozens of survivors of decades-long abuse, we are encouraged that a small measure of justice for Peter Nygard is finally developing,"said Greg Gutzler, another lawyer representing complainants against Nygardsaid Tuesday about the fashion mogul'sarrest.

"We are relieved that some measure of accountability is hopefully forthcoming, but we would be remiss if we did not state that this is something that should have been done decades ago."

WATCH | Peter Nygard arrested in Winnipeg for sex trafficking, racketeering:

Peter Nygard arrested for sex trafficking, racketeering

4 years ago

Duration 1:45

Fashion mogul Peter Nygard appeared in a Winnipeg court on Tuesday after being arrested on U.S. charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Nygard has been the subject of a CBC News investigation into allegations of sexual assault.

From at least in or about 1995 andup to and including in or about 2020, while Nygard was theleader of his international clothing design andmanufacturing business headquartered in Winnipeg, he "used the Nygard Group's influence, as well as its employees, funds, and other resources, to recruit and maintain adult and minor-aged female victims for [his own] sexual gratification and the sexual gratification of his friends and business associates," states theindictment, which was unsealed Tuesday in Manhattan federal court.

Nygard and his co-conspirators, including employees, used force, fraudand coercion to cause women and minors to have sex with him and others, the indictment reads.

It says he frequently targeted women and minor-aged girls who came from disadvantaged economic backgrounds and/or who had a history of abuse. The indictment said Nygard controlled his victims through threats, false promises of modelling opportunities and other career advancement, financial supportand by other coercive means.

The indictment says Nygard paid his victims for commercial sex using Nygard Group funds, including by putting "girlfriends" on the payroll as models,assistantsor in other positions.

Danger to community

According to an affidavit filed with Manitoba's Court of Queen's Benchby Sgt. Stefane Nicolas of the RCMP's Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit, Mounties began monitoring Nygard's movements and a home in the Royalwood neighbourhood of Winnipeg leading up to his arrest.

The registered owner of the home is a numbered company under the namea former employee of Nygard.

Nicolas said in his sworn statement that Nygardis a danger to the community, both in Canada and the U.S. He allegedthat women have been victimizedat properties in Winnipeg, Falcon Lake, Man., and Toronto, with the help of corporate employees.

Nicolas alsostated he worried that,before he was arrested, Nygardmight flee.

"I believe that Nygard has demonstrated a pattern of non-attendance in court, and disregard for court orders, that indicate the likelihood of continued non-attendance or flight," he said.

Nygard denies all allegations

Nygard, whose companies were once worth hundreds of millions of dollars, hasdeniedall the allegations and none of them have been proven in court.

Nygard stepped down as chairman of the Nygard companies, a spokesperson said in February.

In the past, Nygard has been listed as one of the richest Canadians. His empire once included a palatial estate in the Bahamas, with administrative and production facilities in Winnipeg, Toronto, Los Angeles and a world headquarters in New York.

In March of 2020, nine of his companies were forced into receivership by the courts in Manitoba. Nygard's companies owe millions of dollars to several creditors.