Stamford Advocate
Lisa Backus
Fired CNN producer John Griffin was sentenced Tuesday to 19 years in federal prison for luring a 9-year-old girl with her mother to his ski home in Vermont in 2020.
He was also ordered to pay the girl, who is suing him in Connecticut state court, $1.1 million in restitution, according to the United State’s Attorney’s Office in the District of Vermont.
Calling his behavior “outrageous,” U.S. District Judge William Sessions III, said during the sentencing Griffin’s conduct warranted a “severe penalty,” according to officials.
Griffin, a former Norwalk and Stamford resident, has been held by federal authorities since his indictment in December 2021 on three counts of using a facility of interstate commerce to attempt to entice minors to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
Griffin was fired from his job as a CNN producer after the indictment. He is also being sued by the girl, who is now 11, and her guardian who claim the child was forced to commit sex acts while she was at his home in Ludlow, Vt. The lawsuit is expected to be settled soon, said attorney Joel Faxon, who is representing the child.
The restitution will be used for future medical expenses for the young girl, Faxon said. He could not reveal the terms of the settlement, which will be finalized in the coming weeks, he said.
“Everyone involved wants to get this horrific incident behind them and focus on the healing of the young lady,” Faxon said.
Griffin was once a producer for the Chris Cuomo show and was most recently a producer for CNN senior political analyst John Avlon before he was arrested by federal authorities.
The 10-page indictment issued by a grand jury alleges that Griffin frequently used Kik, a messaging application, and Google Hangouts to lure women with young daughters to meet him at the Vermont ski house he had bought with his wife to provide “sexual training” on how to be “submissive” to men. Griffin boasted during internet chats that he had trained girls as young as 7 years old, federal authorities said.
He sent a total of $3,350 to the adoptive mother of the 9-year-old for them to travel from Nevada to Boston where Griffin picked them up and drove them to his Vermont home, court documents said. At the Vermont ski house, “the child was directed to engage in and did engage in illegal sexual activity,” the indictment said.
Griffin used his personal wealth to target and abuse “vulnerable young girls,” said Vermont U.S. Attorney Nikolas Kerest, who prosecuted the case.
The child’s adoptive mother who brought the girl from their Nevada home to visit Griffin pleaded guilty to attempted lewdness with a child under the age of 14, attempted sexual assault and child abuse. Hearst Connecticut Media Group is withholding the woman’s name to protect the child’s identity.
The woman was sentenced in April to eight to 20 years in prison on each count in Nevada, court records show. The woman is also required to register as a sex offender and have lifetime supervision, court records show. She was arrested about 18 months before Griffin was charged.
Griffin, who had pleaded guilty in December to one count of a three-count indictment, was also issued 15 years supervised release with conditions following his prison term, according to court documents.
As part of the plea deal, the government dropped two remaining counts of enticement of a minor against Griffin, then 45 years old.
His wife filed for divorce shortly after he was arrested and Griffin was required to sell the ski home and split the profits with his wife, with his share — $1.1 million — held by the court to provide restitution to the now 11-year-old victim. During the sentencing, he was also required to forfeit the Tesla he used to transport the girl and her mother from Boston to Vermont.
Male Athletes (in order based on recent marathon performances):
1. Conner Mantz (27): Seed Time 2:07:47; 2022 Faxon Law New Haven Road Race 20K Champion.
2. Clayton Young (30): Seed Time 2:08:00; 2023 Faxon Law New Haven Road Race 20K Champion.
3. Galen Rupp (37): Seed Time 2:08:48; 2018 Faxon Law New Haven Road Race 20K Champion, Silver Medalist at 2012 Olympics in the 10K, 4-time USA Olympic team member.
4. Sam Chelanga (38): Seed Time 2:08:50; 5x top 3 Faxon Law New Haven Road Race, 2nd place in 2015 and 2016 Faxon Law New Haven Road Races.
5. Scott Fauble (32): Seed Time 2:08:52.
6. Elkanah Kibet (40): Seed Time 2:09:07; 4th place at 2016 Faxon Law New Haven Road Race.
7. Zachary Panning (28): Seed Time 2:09:28.
8. Leonard Korir (37): Seed Time 2:09:31; 2017 and 2019 Faxon Law New Haven Road Race 20K Champion, 2016 US Olympic Team for the 10K.
9. Futsum Zienasellassie (31): Seed Time 2:09:40; 5th place at 2023 Faxon Law New Haven Road Race.
10. Brian Shrader (32): Seed Time 2:09:45; 12th place at 2021 Faxon Law New Haven Road Race.
Female Athletes (in order based on recent marathon performances):
1. Emily Sisson (32): Seed Time 2:18:29; 2023 Faxon Law New Haven Road Race 20K Champion, 2nd place at 2022 Faxon Law New Haven Road Race.
2. Kiera D’Amato (39): Seed Time 2:19:12; 2022 Champion and women’s course record holder at Faxon Law New Haven Road Race.
3. Betsy Saina (35): Seed Time 2:21:40; First appearance at Faxon Law New Haven Road Race.
4. Sarah Hall (40): Seed Time 2:22:10; 2018 and 2019 Faxon Law New Haven Road Race 20K Champion.
5. Molly Siedel (29): Seed Time 2:23:07; Tokyo Olympic Marathon Bronze medalist, 9th place at Faxon Law New Haven Road Race 20K – Injured and not competing.
6. Sara Vaughn (37): Seed Time 2:23:24.
7. Susanna Sullivan (33): Seed Time 2:24:27; 13th place at 2023 Faxon Law New Haven Road Race.
8. Gabriella Rooker (36): Seed time 2:24:35.
9. Aliphine Tuliamuk (34): Seed time 2:24:37; 2016 Faxon Law New Haven Road Race 20K Champion. 2020 US Olympian.
10. Dakotah Lindwurm (28): Seed time 2:24:40; 6th place at 2023 Faxon Law New Haven Road Race.
The Faxon Law New Haven 20K is the longest running national championship in the U.S. and has hosted the 20K Championship since 1993.
About U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials:
The Olympic trials held Saturday in Orlando select top athletes who will represent their country at the Olympic Games. These trials serve as the ultimate test for athletes, demanding peak performance under intense scrutiny. Earning a spot on the Olympic team is a testament to an athlete’s dedication, resilience, and exceptional skill. The trials also provide spectators with a thrilling preview of the talent that will compete on the global stage.
About Faxon Law New Haven Road Race:
The Faxon Law New Haven Road Race is excited to celebrate its 47th anniversary this Labor Day! The event takes place Monday, September 2 on the New Haven Green. The races consist of a half marathon, relay, 5K, Kids Fun Run, and the signature 20K. The Faxon Law New Haven 20K again hosts the USATF 20K National Championship. The race expects to feature a number of past champions and U.S. Champions. This year marks the 33rd year a national championship event has been held in New Haven, making the race the longest consecutive USATF Championship race ever.
The event’s major sponsors include Faxon Law Group, Avelo Airlines, McDermott Lexus, AVANGRID, Town Fair Tire, Corsair, Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists, and the City of New Haven. To learn more about the event or to register, visit www.newhavenroadrace.org.