Not Guilty Plea From Norwood Man Accused of Drugging, Robbing Gay Men

NORWOOD, MA - A Norwood man is being held Wednesday on a reduced bail, after pleading not guilty to accusations of adopting the fake persona of a wealthy European émigré in a scheme to target gay men, drug them and rob them.

Riccardo D’Orsainville, 50, was indicted by a Suffolk County Grand Jury last month, charged with one count of kidnapping and three counts each of poisoning, larceny over $250 and receiving stolen property, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office and Boston Police Department.

D’Orsainville is a Haitian national and convicted con man who remains in the U.S. despite attempts to deport him, reports The Boston Globe. He was not returned to Haiti because he is gay and could be subject to discrimination there, according to court records obtained by the paper.

He was arraigned Wednesday in Suffolk Superior Court, where his bail was reduced from $250,000 to $100,000, the District Attorney's office said. D’Orsainville "did not appear in public view Wednesday, but shouted his plea into court," according to The Globe.

Prosecutors cried foul Wednesday after D’Orsainville's defense counsel reportedly said the men he encountered may have been experiencing "buyer’s remorse" in reporting the crimes against them. 

"The victims in this case were targeted because of their sexuality, drugged against their will, and robbed of their belongings.   To call their reaction 'buyer’s remorse' is to suggest they bear responsibility for the crimes committed against them, which we find offensive," a statement from the district attorney's office said.

Boston Police investigators said D’Orsainville targeted gay men, setting up rendezvous with at least three men who took him to their Boston homes. While there with D’Orsainville, the men passed out after drinking alcohol, investigators said. When they awoke, they realized that thousands of dollars worth of property was missing. Stolen items ranged from a tuxedo and designer neckties to rare and expensive paintings and sculptures, according to police. In one case, the victim awoke to find his hands tied behind his back, police said.

D’Orsainville's next court appearance is scheduled for June 30.