Nationwide — Edward Gene Smith, a 50-year-old former bank executive in New York City, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to drugging and sexually abusing women. His defense team argued that his autism spectrum disorder played a role in his actions, but prosecutors rejected the claim.
Smith, who previously worked as a managing director at BlackRock and Citigroup, pleaded guilty to charges including sexual assault, receiving child pornography, and obstruction of justice. He will also remain under lifetime supervised release after his prison sentence.
According to People, prosecutors said Smith used his wealth, education, and professional reputation to conceal years of abuse. According to People, authorities said he targeted women he met online between 2015 and 2024 and convinced them to travel to New York City, including victims who were as young as 17.
Investigators said Smith drugged or attempted to drug multiple women before sexually assaulting them at his apartment near Central Park South or other locations. Authorities also said he secretly recorded and photographed some victims and shared the material online without their consent.
The case came to light after authorities searched Smith’s home in 2024 and found thousands of files containing child sexual abuse material on his devices. Prosecutors also accused him of attempting to interfere with the investigation by offering money to a victim in exchange for a false letter supporting him.
“Edward Gene Smith is a sexual predator and a serial rapist,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “He spent years hiding behind wealth, education, and status while he committed egregious sexual crimes.”
During sentencing proceedings, Smith’s defense argued that his autism affected how he understood his relationships with the women involved. They claimed he believed the encounters were consensual and did not understand that the victims viewed them as abuse.
Prosecutors pushed back against the argument, saying Smith’s condition did not excuse his actions. They described the defense as an attempt to shift blame away from his criminal behavior.
Before receiving his sentence, Smith sent a letter to the judge expressing regret for his actions. He said he had reconnected with his family and wrote that he was ashamed of the person he had become.
Smith faced the possibility of up to 80 years in prison if the case went to trial. As part of his plea agreement, prosecutors agreed not to seek more than 30 years behind bars.