Alleged con man indicted in scheme that involved drugging and robbing gay men
A Norwood man accused of drugging and robbing men after gaining access to their homes by falsely posing as a wealthy European has been indicted on kidnapping, poisoning, and larceny charges in a scheme that targeted gay men, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office.
Riccardo D’Orsainville, 50, was charged with kidnapping and three counts each of poisoning, larceny over $250, and receiving stolen property, authorities said. D’Orsainville currently lives in Norwood, but was a Boston resident when the three alleged robberies took place in March and April of 2013.
Three men say that D’Orsainville, who claimed to be a wealthy European and spoke with an accent, came to their Boston homes for drinks after meeting either online or in a bar. Each recalls waking up after unexpectedly passing out to find that thousands of dollars of their property had been taken, including a tuxedo, designer ties, and rare paintings and sculptures, according to the DA’s office. One of the men said he woke up and found his hands were bound behind his back, and all reported experiencing symptoms that didn’t coincide with regular alcohol consumption, authorities said. D’Orsainville is not charged with assaulting the men.
Authorities did not identify a suspect in the cases until last year, when one of the victim’s told an acquaintance about the incident and described his perpetrator. That person connected the story and description to D’Orsainville, who had a prior conviction in federal court for defrauding the Boston Veteran Affairs Research Institute, and allowed the victim to make a photo identification to police, according to the DA’s office.
Police then searched D’Orsainville’s home, recovering items each of the victims had reported as stolen, authorities said. D’Orsainville was initially arrested on one charge of larceny, and has been held on $250,000 bail since his February arraignment in Boston Municipal Court.
D’Orsainville is due back in Boston Municipal Court on June 16. His pending arraignment in Suffolk Superior Court has yet to be scheduled.
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