Documentary explores alleged 1988 prostitution ring that saw children abused by high-rank officials

A resurfaced documentary is exposing a series of horrific accusations made by alleged victims of a 1988 child sex trafficking ring in 1988, who claim they were flown around the US to abused by high-ranking officials – alleging that FBI ‘covered up’ the shocking crimes they were subjected to.

Back in the 1980s, several alleged victims claimed that a man named Lawrence King ran an underground club in Omaha, Nebraska, through which he, along with well-known politicians, businessmen, and media moguls, are said to have forced children as young as eight years old to have sex with them.

In 1990, a Nebraska county grand jury concluded that the claims were a ‘hoax,’ and a federal grand jury later agreed that the allegations had no base. However, in 1993, a film crew flew to Omaha to shed further light on the shocking accusations, interviewing the alleged victims and others who were said to be involved as part of a documentary.

The alleged victims told documentary makers that the government forced them into silence by threatening those who spoke out, using scare tactics, and even murder – with one of them even alleging that they killed his brother in an attempt to get him to stay quiet about the accusations. 

But days before the movie was supposed to premiere on the Discovery Channel, it got shut down with no explanation. Now it has finally been released and uploaded to Real Women/Real Stories’ YouTube page – leaving many to wonder, was the prostitution ring real and did the government hide it, or was it really just an elaborate ‘hoax’ as the grand jury determined?

Back in the 1980s, the alleged victims (one of whom is pictured) claimed that a man named Lawrence King ran an underground club in Omaha, Nebraska, through which he, along with politicians, forced children to have sex with them

In 1990, a Nebraska county grand jury concluded that the claims were a ‘hoax,’ and a federal grand jury later agreed that the allegations had no base. King is pictured

However, in 1993, a film crew flew to the state to look into it further, interviewing the alleged victims (two of whom are seen in the doc) and others who were said to be involved as part of a documentary on the matter

The documentary, called Conspiracy of Silence, saw some of the supposed victims speak out about the alleged offenses perpetrated by King and his rich circle of powerful men, as well as the lengths federal investigators reportedly took to make sure that the scandal was never made public.

The alleged victims told documentary makers that the government forced them into silence by threatening those who spoke out, using scare tactics, and even murder – with one of them even alleging that they killed his brother in an attempt to get him to stay quiet about the accusations. King is seen in the documentary 

Described as a story about ‘evil in the heart of America’ involving ‘a coverup at the highest level,’ the documentary explained how a film crew uncovered the ‘vast operation’ which ‘provided children to the wealthy for molestation, drug trafficking, and blackmail.’

The base for King’s alleged network was a small ‘people’s bank’ in Omaha, Nebraska, known as the Franklin Federal Credit Union, where he worked as a general manager.

Through the bank, King allegedly ‘courted the leaders of Omaha’s wealthy business district,’ the documentary stated, adding, ‘Banks, industries, and charities placed millions of dollars in his hands.’ 

He also grew close to the leaders of a nearby home for orphaned kids called Boys Town, which would reportedly send some of its children to work for him.

Boys Town was started in 1917 as a shelter for young boys who were left with no family after World War I. 

By the 1990s, it was worth $500 million and had expanded immensely, owning its own school and church on the property – where 500 ‘homeless, abandoned, neglected, and abused’ boys and girls lived.

According to the doc, King would get close to the kids there after they came and worked for him at the bank, however, he would then reportedly prostitute them out to his wealthy friends, force them to have sex with himself and with others, and provide them with drugs.

The base for King’s alleged network was a small ‘people’s bank’ in Omaha, Nebraska, known as the Franklin Federal Credit Union, where he worked as a general manager. King is seen in the doc

He also grew close to the leaders of a nearby home for orphaned kids called Boys Town (pictured in the ’90s), which would reportedly send some of its children to work for him

King would then allegedly prostitute the kids out to his friends, force them to have sex with himself and with others, and provide them with drugs. Boys Town, which is still open, is seen recently

‘He was also one of the most evil individuals in this country,’ lawyer John DeCamp, who was working on the case at the time, said in the documentary. ‘He was a dealer of children and a thief. He would use, compromise, and corrupt politicians one after another.’ 

One boy, named Paul Bonacci, claimed that he became a victim of King’s abuse at age eight. He said King would use him to ‘lure’ more boys into the program, and would force him to ‘become friends with them’ and invite them to his parties. He also said King used drugs to rope more children in.

‘They would do the sexual acts and be provided with cocaine or whatever type of drug they wanted,’ he explained. 

Washington lobbyist Craig Spence, department store billionaire Alan Baer, and celebrity columnist at the World Herald Newspaper Peter Citron were some of the men who were later named by victims as allegedly being involved.

‘It’s a web of intrigue, that starts in Nebraska and spreads out like a spider-web to Washington, D.C. – right up to steps of the nation’s capital, right up to the steps of the White House,’ DeCamp revealed. ‘It involves some of the most respected and powerful and richest business men in this United States of America.’

Bonacci claimed that Citron often forced him, as well as other victims, to have oral sex with him.

He said: ‘The kids he liked were mainly around the ages eight to 13. He liked to have oral sex with them. He did have some anal sex but he usually did that to older kids.’ 

One boy, named Paul Bonacci (pictured), claimed he became a victim of King’s abuse at age eight, and said King used him to befriend and ‘lure’ more boys into the program

Washington lobbyist Craig Spence (left), and department store billionaire Alan Baer (right), were some of the men who were later named by victims as allegedly being involved

Celebrity columnist at the World Herald Newspaper Peter Citron (seen in the World Herald) also reportedly forced victims brought to him by King to have oral and anal sex with him, the documentary reported

He also said he was flown via King’s private jet to Washington, D.C. to attend parties with King, Spence, and other ‘prominent politicians,’ where they would be given drugs and forced to perform sexual acts. 

Bonacci (pictured) claimed he was flown via King’s private jet to Washington, D.C. to attend parties with King, Spence, and other ‘prominent politicians,’ where he said they would be given drugs and forced to perform sexual acts

‘When they started off, they were straight political-type parties with no sex. And then when some of the politicians had left, the ones that had planned on engaging in some type of sexual activity, that would come after the party,’ he stated. 

‘Some of the kids … if they acted up or if they started freaking out because of the drugs that they were on, they would put them in a room [downstairs] that they couldn’t get out of – they would lock them in.’

He also said Spence would take him and others on ‘midnight tours of the White House,’ which he called ‘a gift for the services that they were providing.’

Another boy, named Troy Boner, said he was 17 when he was introduced to the prostitution ring, and he claimed he was often forced to have sex with Baer.

‘Alan Baer was a sick f**k,’ he said. ‘He didn’t care, he wanted sex. It was nasty, I don’t even know if you can call it sex. 

‘He’d take it any way that he had to. He’d pay for it, but if he had to take it by force he would.

‘Larry King was the same kind of sick f**k Alan Baer was but Larry King was more violent and more sure of himself. I’d see him f**k a 10-year-old boy in the a** until he bled. He’d push him down and go out and meet with decent people.’

Another boy, named Troy Boner (pictured), said he was 17 when he was introduced to the prostitution ring, stating he once saw King ‘f**k a 10-year-old boy in the a** until he bled’

A woman named Alicia Owen (seen in the documentary) claimed she was tied up and forced to have sex with numerous men at age 15

Bonacci (seen recently) claimed that kids were locked in a room in the basement ‘if they acted up or if they started freaking out’

Boner said they would force things into his ‘a**’ including a ‘huge squash.’ He also recalled a time that they allegedly made a group of the boys to get naked and touch each other. And on some occasions, he said they also ‘poked them with hot things.’

‘At one party, they wanted to see how strong of a man we were, so they had us put our arms together and [King would] light cigarettes and drop them down on our arms and let it burn,’ he added. ‘And they filmed it, us burning.’

Boner said King also made them do cocaine and heroine. And when he’d get high on drugs, he’d start questioning King – who would then ‘beat the s**t out of him.’

A woman named Alicia Owen alleged that she was tied up and forced to have sex with numerous men at age 15. 

‘If you didn’t want to be involved you were threatened,’ she said in the documentary. ‘They said they’d sell me [to someone worse] or sell my family.’

In 1988, during a routine checkup at Boys Town, Nebraska’s state foster care review board became aware of the alleged abuse. However, a member of the board claimed in the documentary that their investigation was quickly shut down due to the prominence of those involved.

‘Larry King’s name was consistently present as someone that the youth were making allegations against,’ Carol Stitt, a director at the foster care review board, shared. 

‘I handed that over to the authorities and nothing happened. The allegations were ignored. It was very clear that the case was not investigated and not pursued because of the alleged perpetrators.’ 

Eventually, the IRS became suspicious of King and uncovered that he had stolen $40 million from Franklin Federal Credit Union, leading to his arrest.

Carol Stitt (pictured), a director at Nebraska’s state foster care review board, said she became aware of the abuse and reported it, but claimed her investigation was quickly shut down

The IRS eventually uncovered that King (pictured) had stolen $40 million from Franklin Federal Credit Union, leading to his arrest

In November 1988, Nebraska’s state government set up its own investigation into the alleged sexual assault, which was led by a man named Loran Schmit (pictured)

In November 1988, Nebraska’s state government set up its own investigation into the alleged sexual assault, which was led by a man named Loran Schmit. However, as soon as he started to look into it, he claimed he started receiving anonymous phone calls and threats.

Sitt, who worked at the foster care review board and was one of the original people to become aware of the alleged abuse, said she also got threatening messages, with one man telling her over the phone, ‘If you speak, you won’t live to regret it.’

After gathering a lot of evidence, Schmit (seen in the doc) said he turned everything over to the FBI – however, he was taken aback when they allegedly didn’t believe his findings

Schmit didn’t back down though, and he brought in two private investigators – Karen Ormiston and Gary Caradori. They started interviewing all of the supposed victims, and were horrified by what the children reportedly told them.

‘They were telling us about prominent people in Omaha and elsewhere that were abusing children at parties,’ Ormiston said. ‘We were appalled. It was incredible, what these kids went through.’

After gathering a lot of evidence, Schmit said he turned everything over to the FBI – however, he was taken aback when they allegedly didn’t believe his findings.

He said they questioned the validity of the victims, with Schmit explaining, ‘I was very disappointed with the way the FBI and law enforcement treated the victims. 

‘They turned them into the offenders. Instead of taking the evidence that was delivered to them by the victims and interrogating the persons who the victims identified, they seemed to bear down and try to get the victims to change their story.’ 

Boner recalled being brought in for further questioning by the FBI, and said he was warned that if he continued to share his story, he would be put in ‘jail’ for perjury.

‘The FBI’s attitude was, “No, this kind of stuff just doesn’t happen,”‘ he explained. ‘First interview [with the FBI], I realized they don’t believe a word I say. 

Boner (pictured) recalled being brought in for further questioning by the FBI, and being warned that if he continued to share his story, he would be put in ‘jail’ for perjury

Then, in 1990, when investigator Gary Caradori was on his way back to Nebraska from Chicago, his plane crashed – killing him and his eight-year-old son (pictured)

His partner, Karen Ormiston (pictured), believed the FBI had something to do with the crash, explaining that his briefcase was missing from the wreckage

‘They said, “It will not be believed and you’ll be found guilty of perjury.” They were saying, “You go on with this story and you’re going to jail.” Out of fear, I recanted my testimony.’ 

Then, in 1990, when investigator Caradori was on his way back to Nebraska from Chicago, where he had reportedly uncovered more evidence regarding King’s prostitution ring, his plane crashed – killing him and his eight-year-old son. 

The plane was said to have ‘broken up’ midflight, since pieces were found over a large area, but investigators could never figure out what made the aircraft fall apart.

Boner later said he and the other victims had made up the whole story amid pressure from the FBI. One of the victims, Owen (pictured), was then arrested for perjury

Ormiston, who believes the FBI had something to do with the crash, claimed that his briefcase was missing from the wreckage. 

She added: ‘We’ll never know what else was missing because I don’t know what he had with him or what he did in Chicago, what information he was coming back with.’ 

According to the documentary, FBI agents impounded all records of the investigation within 24 hours of the crash, and the incident terrified the rest of the people involved.

‘The effect of Gary’s crash on the investigation, I think it put an end to anybody else coming forward with information,’ Ormiston said.

Stitt also explained, ‘That’s when I was finished because I figured, if they murdered Gary and his son, there’s nothing that would stop them.’

Boner later told a jury that he and the other victims had made up the whole story, however, in the documentary, he claimed he only said that amid pressure from the FBI.

In 1990, a county grand jury in Nebraska concluded that the ‘lurid reports of child sex abuse, drug trafficking, pornography, and political intrigue’ were a ‘carefully crafted hoax,’ the New York Times reported. 

The jury found that the claims had been ‘scripted by a person or persons with considerable knowledge of the people and institutions of Omaha.’ 

One of the victims, Owen, was then arrested for perjury, and Boner was set to be the state’s star witness in the case. 

However, when he began to get cold feet about his involvement, his brother, Shawn, suddenly died in an ‘inexplicable gun accident’ – which Boner was convinced was a ‘warning message’ to him.

In 1990, a county grand jury in Nebraska concluded that it was all a ‘carefully crafted hoax.’ Owen (pictured) was then found guilty in July 1991, and was sentenced to nine-25 years in jail. She spent four-and-a-half years in prison in the end

‘Every victim-witness who stepped forward in any way, has either been killed, put in jail, terrified, or discredited,’ lawyer John DeCamp (pictured), who worked the case, concluded

‘They killed him somehow, professionally made something happen to shut me up,’ Boner said in the documentary, with his mom, Loni, adding, ‘The purpose of Shawn’s death was to instill fear, and it worked.’ 

In the end, Owen was convicted of perjury in July 1991, and was sentenced to nine-25 years in jail, however, she only spent four-and-a-half years in prison in the end.

The narrator of the documentary pointed out that King was only given a 15-year sentence – 10 years less than her maximum sentence – for his fraud charges.

In 2003, Boner walked into a New Mexico hospital screaming that someone was after him. He was admitted to the hospital and ‘mildly sedated,’ however, when nurses came to check on him the next morning, they found him dead and bleeding from the mouth.

The documentary stated that investigator Ted Gunderson, who handled the case of his death, was denied an autopsy and was ‘shut out of all information’ by the government. 

‘No news stories on Boner’s death were ever published, despite his previous front page fame and “notoriety” in the Franklin case,’ the narrator of the documentary added.

‘Obviously, the FBI was protecting something a lot more significant than a bunch of old pedo-sadists having improper relations with little boys,’ DeCamp concluded. 

‘They were protecting some very prominent politicians, some very powerful and wealthy individuals associated with those politicians and the political system, up to and including the highest political people in this entire country.

‘Every victim-witness who stepped forward in any way, or even was a potential witness that somebody heard about, has either been killed, put in jail under some theory or other, terrified or run out of the state, or discredited.’