View source for Frank Parlato Jr.

{{short description|American investigative journalist and publisher (born 1955)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Cleanup|reason=The article is disjointed, lacks clarity, and has a confusing chronology of events.|date=November 2024}}
{{Copyedit|date=November 2024}}
}}
{{use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| image            = 
| caption          = 
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|1955|04|25}}
| birth_place      = [[Buffalo, New York]], U.S.
| death_date       = 
| death_place      = 
| education        = 
| occupation       = Publisher
| title            = 
| spouse           = 
| relatives        = 
| family           = 
| birthname        = 
| alias            = 
| domestic_partner = 
| known_for        = ''Frank Report''<br>''The Lost Women of NXIVM''<br>''The Vow''
| credits          = 
}}

'''Frank Parlato Jr.''' (born April 25, 1955) is an American publisher.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://frankreport.com/2022/08/06/buffalo-news-frank-parlato-speaks-out-on-plea-deal-outside-the-courthouse/ | title=Buffalo News: Frank Parlato Speaks Out on Plea Deal Outside the Courthouse | date=6 August 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/crime/niagara-falls-businessman-pleads-guilty-to-tax-charge-frank-parlato/71-ade4c15e-89eb-4925-b69d-22b11aa7fd42 | title=Niagara Falls businessman pleads guilty to tax charge, will forfeit $1M | date=5 August 2022 }}</ref> He publishes the ''Frank Report'', ''[[Artvoice]]'', and ''[[The Niagara Reporter|The Niagara Falls Reporter]]''. Parlato is widely credited for bringing attention to the [[NXIVM]] cult when he published the article "Branded Slaves and Master Raniere" on June 5, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|last=frankparlato|date=2017-06-05|title=Part 1: Branded Slaves and Master Raniere; Sources: Human branding part of Raniere-inspired women's group|url=https://frankreport.com/2017/06/05/part-1-branded-slaves-and-master-raniere-sources-human-branding-part-of-raniere-inspired-womens-group/|access-date=2021-03-31|website=Frank Report {{!}} Investigative Journalism From Frank Parlato|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Italiano|first=Laura|date=2018-03-29|title=Alleged sex-cult leader used 'Smallville' stars to recruit women: witness|url=https://nypost.com/2018/03/28/alleged-sex-cult-leader-used-smallville-stars-to-recruit-women-witness/|access-date=2021-03-31|website=New York Post|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/nxivm-insider-kieth-raniere-trial-preview-831774 |title=NXIVM Insiders Tell Us What to Expect From Keith Raniere's Trial |last=Dickson |first=EJ |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |date=2019-05-06 |website=rollingstone.com |access-date=2021-04-11 |quote=... Frank Parlato, a former NXIVM publicist turned whistleblower whose independent reporting is widely credited with helping to spur the FBI investigation into the group.}}</ref> 

==NXIVM and federal case==
In 2007, Parlato was hired to work for NXIVM as a publicist.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Phillips |first1=Hedy |title=The Vow: Here's What We Know About Frank Parlato of the Frank Report |url=https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/who-is-frank-parlato-from-frank-report-47850632 |website=POPSUGAR Entertainment |date=6 October 2020}}</ref> He was fired the following year, and went on to blog about NXIVM on his own website, the ''Frank Report''.<ref name="Bustle">{{cite web |title=Frank Parlato From 'The Vow' Has Faced His Own Legal Troubles |url=https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/frank-parlato-the-vow-website-legal-troubles |website=Bustle |date=4 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In 2019, he received wide media coverage for his efforts to bring down the NXIVM cult.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mainstream Media Notes the Man Who Took Down a Sex Cult |url=https://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/mainstream-media-notes-the-man-who-took-down-a-sex-cult/ |website=The Niagara Reporter |date=10 July 2019}}</ref> Earlier in 2015, Parlato was federally indicted on 19 counts, including fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy related to his management of the One Niagara Center in Niagara Falls, New York.<ref name="NIagaraNews">{{cite web |author=|title=TOP 10: Grand jury indicts Frank Parlato Jr., associate on federal charges (4) |url=https://www.niagara-gazette.com/news/local_news/top-10-grand-jury-indicts-frank-parlato-jr-associate-on-federal-charges-4/article_9ea57bba-ad1e-11e5-b94c-4f4b1042e1eb.html |website=Niagara Gazette |date=27 December 2015 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="BUffnews">{{cite web |last1=Fairbanks |first1=Phil |title=Developer and newspaper publisher Parlato indicted on fraud, money laundering |url=https://buffalonews.com/business/local/developer-and-newspaper-publisher-parlato-indicted-on-fraud-money-laundering/article_60acbc78-ffa8-5487-852c-29fc9313389c.html |website=The Buffalo News |date=20 November 2015 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Pfeiffer |first1=Rickand |last2=Gambini |first2=Philip |title=Parlato facing 19-count federal indictment |url=https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/parlato-facing-19-count-federal-indictment/article_fc476986-6174-5370-8078-ff8590061ed3.html |website=Lockport Union-Sun & Journal |date=21 November 2015 |language=en}}</ref> In 2018, prosecutors dropped the portion of the charges against him that related to defrauding [[Seagram|Seagram's]] heirs.<ref name="BuffNewsDropped">{{cite web |last1=Fairbanks |first1=Phil |title=Feds drop charges that Frank Parlato Jr. stole from Seagrams heirs |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/feds-drop-charges-that-frank-parlato-jr-stole-from-seagrams-heirs/article_dccd8fad-8e81-5cb1-8e69-994ce4aae6a7.html |website=The Buffalo News |date=24 May 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

''The Buffalo News'', noting the changes in the [[United States District Court for the Western District of New York]] superseding indictment, reported that Seagram's heir [[Clare Bronfman]] went from the accuser in Parlato's case to the accused when she was arrested in 2018, also observing that Parlato broke major stories that led to her arrest.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fairbanks|first=Phil|title=Seagram's heir goes from accuser in Niagara Falls case to accused in NYC case|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/seagrams-heir-goes-from-accuser-in-niagara-falls-case-to-accused-in-nyc-case/article_f2733549-66a8-5fe6-9234-96a7183f57d4.html|access-date=2021-09-21|website=The Buffalo News|date=24 July 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Parlato and the United States government reached a plea deal on August 5, 2022. <ref>https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5304724/294/united-states-v-parlato/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> Parlato pleaded guilty to a single count of failure to file an [[IRS]] form in 2010 for the receipt of more than $10,000 in cash.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/crime/parlato-pleads-guilty-in-one-niagara-fraud-case/article_6df27ff4-14d2-11ed-a5cd-e3d25d7a31ed.html | title=Parlato pleads guilty in One Niagara fraud case | date=5 August 2022 }}</ref> On July 31, 2023, Parlato plead guilty to one count of felony tax evasion was sentenced to five months of home detention.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://frankreport.com/2022/08/06/buffalo-news-frank-parlato-speaks-out-on-plea-deal-outside-the-courthouse/ | title=Buffalo News: Frank Parlato Speaks Out on Plea Deal Outside the Courthouse | date=6 August 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/frank-parlato-tax-crime-nxivm-richard-arcara/article_f84e3498-2fae-11ee-a96b-a332294d152e.html | title=Frank Parlato sentenced to home confinement for five months; fined $10,000 for tax crime | date=31 July 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pfeiffer |first=Rick |date=December 22, 2022 |title=Judge grants second postponement of Parlato sentencing |url=https://news.yahoo.com/judge-grants-second-postponement-parlato-122300529.html }}</ref>

== ''Frank Report'' ==
The ''Frank Report'' began publishing blogs and stories on November 30, 2015, ten days after Parlato was indicted. One of his first blogs on the ''Frank Report'' detailed his own indictment, some of which were "fueled by Clare Bronfman & NXIVM’s legal team" after he left the cult. A common tactic NXIVM used was to go after defectors with an onslaught of civil and criminal charges, often smearing and bankrupting their targets which Frank was originally hired to be a part of.{{cn|date=March 2024}} The ''Frank Report'' has published thousands of articles about [[NXIVM]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parlato |first=Frank |date=February 21, 2023 |title=Search Results For - NXIVM |url=https://frankreport.com/?s=NXIVM}}</ref> [[DOS (NXIVM)|DOS]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parlato |first=Frank |date=February 21, 2023 |title=Search Results For - DOS |url=https://frankreport.com/?s=DOS}}</ref> [[Keith Raniere]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parlato |first=Frank |access-date=February 21, 2023 |title=Search Results For - Raniere |url=https://frankreport.com/?s=raniere}}</ref> and other issues including cults, criminal justice, and legal journalism.

== NXIVM, DOS, and cult reporting ==
In 2019, Parlato was the lead investigator and consulting producer of the two-hour [[Investigation Discovery]] documentary ''The Lost Women of NXIVM''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/tv-shows/lost-women-of-nxivm/|title=Lost Women of NXIVM &#124; Watch Full Episodes & More!|website=Investigation Discovery}}</ref> He also appeared in five episodes of HBO's docuseries [[The Vow (TV series)|''The Vow'']]: "Building Character", "Class 1 Data", "Blame & Responsibility", "The Wound", and "The Fall". Parlato also appeared in episode four of ''[[Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt13282988/fullcredits|title="Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult" Exposed (TV Episode 2020) - IMDb|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref> In both docuseries, Parlato is credited with helping women who the cult called "slaves" escape and ending the practice of human branding within the cult subgroup called DOS.

In the Starz TV docuseries ''Seduced, Inside the NXIVM Cult'', [[India Oxenberg]] credits Parlato for preventing "slaves" from being branded and required to have sex with NXIVM leader [[Keith Raniere]]. In the final episode of ''Seduced'', "Exposed", Oxenberg said: "As soon as the [''Frank Report''] posts started coming up, there were a ton of questions and a lot of chatter. My slaves left immediately after that. And none of them had to complete the seduction assignment or be branded. That was a huge relief."<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Exposed (ep. 104) |episode-link= |url=https://www.starz.com/us/en/series/seduced-inside-the-nxivm-cult/season-1/episode-4/59973 |access-date= |series=Seduced:Inside the NXIVM Cult |series-link= |first=India |last=Oxenberg |network=STARZ |station= |date=2020 |season=1 |series-no= |number= |minutes=80 |time= |transcript= |transcript-url= |quote= |language=English}}</ref> Her mother, [[Catherine Oxenberg]], who first revealed the existence of DOS to Parlato,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/features/the-vow-hbo-catherine-oxenberg-india-nxivm-dos-1234796494/|title=Why HBO's 'The Vow' Doesn't Capture Catherine Oxenberg's Reunion With Daughter India|first1=Danielle|last1=Turchiano|date=October 11, 2020}}</ref> confirmed that Parlato's stories prompted women to leave the group. In ''Seduced'', she says that as a result of seeing Parlato's blog, "[a] lot of DOS slaves started to defect."<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Exposed (ep. 104) |episode-link= |url=https://www.starz.com/us/en/series/seduced-inside-the-nxivm-cult/season-1/episode-4/59973 |access-date= |series=Seduced:Inside the NXIVM Cult |series-link= |first=Catherine |last=Oxenberg |network=STARZ |station= |date=2020 |season=1 |series-no= |number= |minutes=80 |time= |transcript= |transcript-url= |quote= |language=English}}</ref>

Catherine Oxenberg, India Oxenberg's mother, told [[Gretchen Carlson]]{{what?|reason=What did she tell Carlson?|date=November 2024}} on the Lifetime special ''Beyond the Headlines: Escaping the NXIVM Cult'',<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Escaping the NXIVM Cult |episode-link= |url= |access-date= |series=Beyond the Headlines With Gretchen Carlson |series-link= |first=Catherine |last=Oxenberg |network=Lifetime |station= |date=2019 |season= |series-no= |number= |minutes=25 |time= |transcript= |transcript-url= |quote= |language=English}}</ref> which was about Parlato's work to expose the group that branded and blackmailed women and whose leaders were convicted of racketeering, sex trafficking, state law extortion, and sexual exploitation of a minor.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54709415|title=Nxivm leader Keith Raniere sentenced to 120 years in prison|work=BBC News|date=October 27, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/27/nyregion/nxivm-cult-keith-raniere-sentenced.html|title=Keith Raniere, Leader of Nxivm Sex Cult, Is Sentenced to 120 Years in Prison|first1=Nicole|last1=Hong|first2=Sean|last2=Piccoli|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 27, 2020}}</ref> Several former leaders of DOS blame Parlato for destroying their sorority and the NXIVM community, blaming him for writing "distorted and highly-biased" stories based on the "skewed narrative" of a few whistleblowers, including [[Sarah Edmondson]].

==Other reporting==
Prior to his investigative work on NXIVM, Parlato, through ''[[Niagara Falls Reporter|The Niagara Falls Reporter]]'', reported extensively on the no-bid contract that the Maid of the Mist Steamboat Company enjoyed while running boat cruises on the American and Canadian sides of the falls.<ref name="buffalonews.com">{{Cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/artvoice-niagara-falls-reporter-to-combine-resources/article_609bf4d7-0ae8-5522-9c66-2b45aed9e7b7.html|title = Artvoice, Niagara Falls Reporter to combine resources|website=Buffalonews.com| date=3 October 2015 }}</ref> He reported that the Niagara Parks Commission circumvented efforts by Ripley's Entertainment and Alcatraz Media from bidding on the boat tour concession while secretly approving a 25-year renewal of the Maid of the Mist Steamboat Company's license, while cutting its payment to the parks commission.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://casetext.com/case/maid-of-mist-corporation-v-alcatraz-media|title = MAID OF MIST CORPORATION v. ALCATRAZ MEDIA, LLC, 06-MC-64E |website=Casetext.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/parlato1.27.09.html|title = Niagara Falls Reporter Analysis|website=Niagarafallsreporter.com}}</ref>

In a series of articles, Parlato revealed that on the New York side, Maid of the Mist Steamboat Co. was operating rent free,<ref name="niagarafallsreporter.com">{{Cite web|url=https://niagarafallsreporter.com/Stories/2015/JAN06/asto.html|title=Astounding Difference in Price Paid, and Service Between Maid and Hornblower|website=Niagarafallsreporter.com|access-date=27 October 2021}}</ref> and that the company tried to trademark the name Maid of the Mist despite its use in tours and ferries since 1846.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2016/01/28/landmark-delaware-north-trademark-battle-hearkens-back-to-maid-of-the-mist/|title=Landmark Delaware North trademark battle hearkens back to Maid of the Mist|website=Jewishbusinessnews.com|date=28 January 2016 |access-date=27 October 2021}}</ref><ref name="niagarafallsreporter.com" /> At one time, Parlato owned the One Niagara Building and took issue with having to pay taxes while the Seneca Nation, a sovereign tribe, did not. He accused Senecas of "sucking the life out of Niagara Falls". Parlato sold the building and moved on while the Seneca remained.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/lightning-rod-in-the-falls-businessman-frank-parlato-jr-stirs-the-pot-but-does-he/article_7fdaf5b9-3466-5a4b-917a-37a763507bb8.html | title=Lightning rod in the Falls Businessman Frank Parlato Jr. Stirs the pot, but does he make things better? | date=14 December 2008 }}</ref>

The stories were "hard-hitting and effected change".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sommer|first=Mark|title=Artvoice, Niagara Falls Reporter to combine resources|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/artvoice-niagara-falls-reporter-to-combine-resources/article_609bf4d7-0ae8-5522-9c66-2b45aed9e7b7.html|access-date=2021-10-30|website=The Buffalo News|date=3 October 2015 |language=en}}</ref> The [[Ontario Parliament]] ordered the Maid of the Mist lease canceled and the boat tour put out to tender. The result was a winning bid by Hornblower Tours that was $300 million higher than the Maid would have paid had its lease not been canceled.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2012/03/09/niagara_falls_maid_of_the_mist_boat_tours_dumped_by_niagara_parks_commission.html|title = Niagara Falls Maid of the Mist boat tours dumped by Niagara Parks Commission|newspaper =[[The Toronto Star]]|date = 9 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.niagara-gazette.com/news/local_news/end-of-an-era-for-maid-of-the-mist---hornblower-awarded-contract/article_d8fd2a96-4e39-59b6-b1dd-db8d6642789c.html|title=End of an era for Maid of the Mist - Hornblower awarded contract|website=Niagarafallsreporter.com|date=22 February 2012 |access-date=27 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://niagarafallsreporter.com/maid-mist-new-york-nightmare-canadian-hornblower-niagara-class-act/|title=Maid Of The Mist A New York Nightmare: Canadian Hornblower Niagara A Class Act|website=Niagarafallsreporter.com|date=8 July 2016|access-date=27 October 2021}}</ref> Responding to critics who said he and his ''Niagara Falls Reporter'' publication had an unconventional style, Parlato told ''[[The Buffalo News]]'': "We don't follow anybody's rules; we follow our own rules."<ref name="buffalonews.com"/>

==Federal prosecution==
Following a four year investigation, Parlato and business partner Chitra Selvaraj were federally indicted in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York in November 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-24 |title=Local Businessman And Associate Indicted On Fraud And Money Laundering Charges |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/local-businessman-and-associate-indicted-fraud-and-money-laundering-charges |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}}</ref> Charges included fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion relating to Parlato's ownership and management of the One Niagara Building (former headquarters of [[Occidental Petroleum]]).<ref>{{Cite Pacer|plaintiff=United States of America|defendant=Frank Parlato|title=Indictment|doc-number=1|date=2015-01-20|pacer-number=105326|case-state=NY|case-district=WD|case-division=1|case-year=2015|case-type=cr|case-sequence=00149|access-date=2023-01-25}}</ref> The matter was still in pretrial phase, with Parlato released on bond, when he was summoned by the federal court in Buffalo to appear November 2021 following an alleged incident in Florida with a girlfriend involving "battery, false imprisonment, and witnessing tampering".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/crime/assault-warrant-rescinded-for-parlato/article_d1290e89-dc31-5386-b7f7-6363bde45abb.html | title=Assault warrant rescinded for Parlato | date=3 March 2022 }}</ref><ref> {{Cite Pacer|plaintiff=United States of America|defendant=Frank Parlato|title=ORDER SUMMONS ISSUE FOR BAIL VIOLATION as to Frank R. Parlato, Jr. Signed by Hon. Richard J. Arcara on 11/15/2021. (JLV)|doc-number=254|date=2015-01-20|pacer-number=105326|case-state=NY|case-district=WD|case-division=1|case-year=2015|case-type=cr|case-sequence=00149|access-date=2023-01-25}}</ref> The event was investigated as a bail violation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Pfeiffer |first=Rick |title=Assault warrant rescinded for Parlato |url=https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/crime/assault-warrant-rescinded-for-parlato/article_d1290e89-dc31-5386-b7f7-6363bde45abb.html |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=Lockport Union-Sun & Journal |date=3 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The arrest warrant was rescinded, and the Court ordered Parlato undergo an anger management evaluation.<ref name=":0" />

Parlato accepted a plea agreement in August, 2022, pleading guilty to the willful failure to file the IRS form 8300 ({{UnitedStatesCode|26|7203}} and {{USCSec|26|6050I}}) when he accepted a cash rent payment of $19,000 from commercial tenants of the One Niagara Building.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Niagara falls businessman pleads guilty to tax charge, will forfeit $1,000,000 {{!}} Internal Revenue Service |url=https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/niagara-falls-businessman-pleads-guilty-to-tax-charge-will-forfeit-1000000 |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=www.irs.gov |language=en}}</ref> The agreement also requires Parlato forfeit $1,000,000 originally seized during the investigation and to pay over $180,000 in restitution to the IRS.<ref>{{cite web |last=Besecker |first=Aaron |date=2022-08-05 |title=Frank Parlato faces prison term after plea to IRS charge, agrees to forfeit about $1 million |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/frank-parlato-faces-prison-term-after-plea-to-irs-charge-agrees-to-forfeit-about-1/article_2f556b86-14b8-11ed-be42-97a218c8be37.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806030104/https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/frank-parlato-faces-prison-term-after-plea-to-irs-charge-agrees-to-forfeit-about-1/article_2f556b86-14b8-11ed-be42-97a218c8be37.html |archive-date=2022-08-06 |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=[[Buffalo News]]}}</ref> A sentencing date has been postponed several times, {{Update after|2023|04|03|text=most recently to July 31
, 2023|reason=Scheduled court date; for updates, see docket of United States v. Parlato (1:15-cr-00149) District Court, W.D. New York}}.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pfeiffer |first=Rick |date=2022-12-22 |title=Judge grants second postponement of Parlato sentencing |work=[[Niagara Gazette]] |publisher=[[CNHI]] |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/judge-grants-second-postponement-parlato-122300529.html |access-date=2023-01-18 |via=Yahoo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Docket for United States v. Parlato, 1:15-cr-00149 - CourtListener.com |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6282714/united-states-v-parlato/ |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=CourtListener |language=en-us}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.frankreport.com The Frank Report]

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parlato, Frank Jr.}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:NXIVM people]]
[[Category:People from Buffalo, New York]]
[[Category:American newspaper people]]
[[Category:American whistleblowers]]