CASE DETAILS

In 2019, my husband and I filed civil lawsuits in Nassau County, NY Supreme Court, and essentially self-prosecuted a sexual assault and fraud case against certain former private investigators, Daniel, Lisa, and Lance Ribacoff, and International Investigative Group (IIG).

The Beginning

Based on recommendations from my husband's divorce attorney at the time, International Investigative Group (IIG) was hired to refute certain claims I was making in my divorce and custody case. IIG is headed by Daniel Ribacoff and his daughter and son, Lisa and Lance Ribacoff. IIG was highly recommended and used by several other matrimonial attorneys in the area. Dan Ribacoff has appeared on numerous episodes of the Steve Wilkos Show and other television programs as a polygraph and private investigative expert.

The assignment called for covert surveillance, and at no time were PI's working for IIG, allowed to approach or interact with me, the subject of the investigation.

In fact, in a January 2019 interview with Cosmopolitan online, Lisa Ribacoff, a polygraph examiner and manager at IIG who was assigned to my case, stated that her detectives were trained to never interact with a subject.

“Should any attempted interaction occur on part of the subject, our operatives are trained to play dumb, do not answer any questions, and to immediately walk away and get out of sight,” she said.

In late 2017, the case hit a breaking point when an IIG employee, in an attempt to prevent me from evading the investigators, nearly collided head-on with my car. I was shaken by the experience and, I believe, became more susceptible to cooperating with the investigators.

Incompetence Turns to Fraud

The allegations mentioned in this section are taken from my complaint and other court documents. In late 2017, retired NYPD Detective and IIG investigator, Yanti Michael Greene (who now goes by the name Michael Moretti Ford Cruz) approached me with an offer, a sort of quid pro quo. Essentially, Greene/Cruz, suggested that if I cooperate with the investigators, which would allow them to better track my movements, they would be less aggressive and less likely to use their false narrative to destroy my custody case. Greene/Cruz told me the investigators weren't there to hurt me and to think of them as my "bodyguards" and protectors. Unfortunately, neither my husband nor his matrimonial attorney, were ever made aware of these interactions.

Text messages uncovered appear to indicate that Daniel, Lisa and Lance Ribacoff, the managers of IIG, were aware of this new dynamic between the investigators and myself. In one particular text message, Lance Ribacoff referred to Greene's interactions with me as “amazing" - and offered him a $500 bonus for his efforts.

Legitimate attempts at surveillance appeared to end and the investigators who interacted with me also directed me pose for photos, so they could justify their time on my case.

I wasn't the only one who the PI's interacted with, they also conversed with my friends and family. More incredibly a PI and retired Greenwich, CT police officer assigned to my case, engaged in an inappropriate romantic relationship with Katuria D'Amato, a former friend of mine who was also married.

As alleged, Not only was I exploited by the PI's, my husband appeared to have been defrauded by the them and IIG, the agency they worked for. According to text messages we uncovered and verified in sworn affidavits provided by former PI's, several were told by Lance Ribacoff of IIG to “slap on” or bulk up time records with hours they never worked. We were both in the middle of a perfect storm.

Power and Coercive Control

During the investigation, I fully understood that these intimidating and armed private investigators had ultimate control over my life and were fully capable of reporting false and damaging claims which could destroy my divorce and custody case (false narratives I often saw in court documents). I couldn’t risk angering them and had no choice but to submit to this established power dynamic. In fact, the PI's told me they made a pact and if I ever revealed their inappropriate behavior with me while on the job, they would all deny it.

In December of 2018, following my near collision with one of the more aggressive PI's , I contemplated either ending my life or fleeing to another country. The next day, I was approached by Greene/Cruz and presented me with the arrangement or "quid pro quo" I mentioned earlier.

It was at this time that I decided to be more cooperative and less evasive with the investigators. I was beaten down by their aggressive tailgating, constant oversight, inappropriate audio recordings in restrooms, attempts to obtain my ATM password, paying off gas station attendants for my credit card number, and video surveillance of my friends, family and their children.

Essentially, I agreed to do whatever the investigators they asked. If they asked for my schedule, I provided it. If they asked me to wait on the side of the road so they could catch up, I did. I didn't realize my cooperation would also include more than just my schedule and these other accommodations.

Interactions Lead to Sexual Assaults

As alleged, this new arrangement or "quid pro quo", as I understood it to be, eventually devolved into an uneven power dynamic which allowed some of the PI's to subject me to unwanted sexual advances, assaults, and even rapes.

In January 2018, shortly after Greene presented his offer, the investigator who nearly drove me off the road attempted to “befriend” me. He was the most aggressive of the investigators and I was frightened of him.

I would listen as he discussed his personal life, his relationship with his wife and children, in the hope that he would trust me and his aggressive behavior would decrease. During one such conversation, he described his violent nature, crushed a soda can with his bear hands in front me, and told me that nobody messes with him when he's angry. I was beyond scared.

Within days, he handed me an advanced copy of confidential court documents, related to my custody case. After letting me read the documents in front of him, he alluded that his “friendlier” side came with a price. Fearing this man's violent tendencies, I felt I had no choice but to submit to his advances and pay the price he wanted. This particular incident appeared to have established the "blueprint" for other investigators to follow on how to best to exploit me and leverage the power they had over my life and custody case.

Grooming and Manipulation, Greene a/k/a Cruz Makes his Move

Months after the investigator who nearly collided with me was reassigned (not fired) by the Ribacoffs, Yanti Michael Greene, (a/k/a Michael Moretti Ford Cruz) made his move.

As alleged in my court documents, in late January 2018, Greene's interactions with me intensified. He would pull his car next to mine, ask for my schedule, and made small talk through his window. He also told my mother he was a shift supervisor for IIG, which led me us both to believe that he had control over other investigators on my case. Some of these interactions were recorded by other PI's and these recordings were sent to IIG along with warnings that Greene would become a liability if such behavior continued.

Greene/Cruz used techniques to gain my trust by relating to me. He frequently talked about experiences we supposedly had in common, whether true or not. For example, if he asked for my schedule and I said I had an appointment with a neurologist that day (for a brain aneurysm I suffered in 2006), he would tell me about the strokes he suffered due to his alleged gluten allergy. If I said I was visiting my daughter, Greene would say that he used to be a security guard in her private school. He tried every angle to win me over. According to experts we consulted with, this behavior is typical for a sexual perpetrator.

In March of 2018, while surveilling me at a hotel, Greene approached and for the first time, engaged in physical contact with me. He said he was a hostage negotiator and saved many children from sex trafficking, and spoke about other alleged accomplishments in law enforcement. He repeatedly boasted about being a bodyguard for "a-list" celebrities and even implied he had a "relationship" with Kendall Jenner. At the hotel he began to touch me, first by holding my hand, then by hugging me and kissing my head, etc.

In April of 2018, he intercepted me coning out of the restroom hallway of a restaurant. He wrapped his arms around me, compared his body size to mine and said I could trust him, which is why celebrities turn to their bodyguards. He also told me about his custody battle with the mother of one of his children and how unfair the court system was. These attempts to find commonality never stopped.

Struggling to remember details and if I was roofied by Greene/Cruz

As alleged, in May of 2018, while driving to a restaurant, my former friend, Katuria D'amato spotted Greene/Cruz in a parking lot near my home. She asked to stop and speak to him regarding the affair she was having with his colleague and friend, the former police officer from Greenwich, CT and PI assigned to my case. Rather than leaving the area, Greene, who was paid as a professional private investigator by IIG, advised us to follow him to the back of the parking lot where he wouldn't be seen. D'Amato exited my vehicle, walked towards Greene and entered his vehicle. Ironically, this was the same vehicle he was using to surveil me. I followed my friend to avoid angering Greene and disrupting our cooperative understanding, which could have lead to negative consequences. Knowing my friend was present gave me some peace of mind. My friend and I sat in the back, while Greene sat in the front drivers seat. We made small talk at first then Katuria began discussing her affair with Greene's colleague, who was also married at the time.

As I remember and alleged, D'amato, who was a heavy drinker, brought vodka and cups to Greene's vehicle and poured us all drinks. A few minutes later, D'Amato and I left the vehicle to use the restroom and I placed my cup, with the remaining vodka, inside a cup holder next to Greene. After returning, I consumed what was left inside my cup, then D'Amato poured more vodka. Within about 15 minutes I blacked out. I remember coming to very briefly, lying on my back, face up, on the rear passenger seat of Greene's vehicle. I felt the pressure of Greene on top of me and I attempted to speak but couldn't. I also remember seeing, what I believed, was a light above my head. I don't recall much else after that point.

I awoke the next day (without a hangover) lying naked in my bed, with my pants on the floor of my bedroom covered in urine. I struggled to remember details of what happened the night before but couldn't, no matter how much I tried. With panic setting in, I frantically called friends and family to ask what it felt like to be roofied. Fearing the worst, they advised me to go to the police and the hospital, but I couldn't recall enough details, was afraid of not being believed by the authorities, and of any retaliation from Greene, who knew my whereabouts at all times.

My Husband & I Reconcile, Together We Seek Justice

In January of 2019, after not speaking for over a year, my husband and I re-connected. I told him of the incidents with the investigators and, after a short pause in the conversation, felt an atomic bomb go off. He was shocked, distraught, angry, and sad for me. Neither he nor his matrimonial attorney had any idea what really happened and was apparently lied to by the Ribacoff's, based on his reaction.

He promptly assembled a team of attorneys to deal with the potential crimes that were committed. We reached out to the Nassau County Police who declined to investigate or press charges. We can only assume their lack of interest had something to do with the number of retired police officers being accused and the relationships they may have had.

So, in May of 2019, we decided to self-prosecute and file civil lawsuits against the perpetrators and their employer, International Investigative Group. In my complaint, I described in detail, almost to the day, each assault, when it took place, and which investigator committed it. I sued the investigators involved for sexual assault and my husband sued the investigators, the Ribacoffs and IIG, for fraud.

I alleged, amongst other allegations, that Green/Cruz raped me, and had reason to believe that he recorded or photographed the incident without my knowledge. This would be the start of a long and grueling court battle that would last for almost 6 years.

My Worst Fears Come True, Discovery of the Rape & Video Recordings

In May of 2019, shortly after these lawsuits were served on the defendants, Greene/Cruz, in his answer, accused me of raping him - a 6' 4", 250 pound, armed, former NYPD detective. He claimed that I, a 5' 3", 130 lb woman, pulled him into the back of his vehicle, against his will, then sexually assaulted him, while he recorded this alleged crime in progress as proof that I was the real perpetrator! He also accused me of uttering sexually explicit and racist statements, directed towards him, during this alleged assault and implied that he had recorded them as well.

His so-called evidence, these recordings, became the central focus of the lawsuits. I never believed for a second that he had anything on camera remotely resembling what he described. Our attorneys immediately requested that he submit this "evidence" to the court but that turned into another legal battle. Greene/Cruz was reluctant to submit any of the footage. We would later learn why.

In August of 2019, I and another family member received text messages threatening to release the videos Greene/Cruz recorded on social media and other outlets. I was frightened and panicked. Essentially this man was holding a gun to my head and, unless I was able to disarm him, he could leverage me with these videos, at any time, for the rest of my life.

After months of back and forth and several court orders, Greene/Cruz finally submitted two video clips to my attorneys, totaling about 90 seconds. He went as far as to claim that these two videos were the only footage he recorded from the incident that night. I was shocked when I saw the footage because I didn't believe he actually had anything. Really, what could he have, since I blacked out and couldn't a remember much from that night. Even my own attorneys were initially taken a back by the footage, but my husband knew these clips must have been fabricated, and stuck by me and my story!

The videos were intentionally filmed to expose only the lower portion of my body. Greene/Cruz was careful not to record my real condition or any of the statements he claimed I made. He used the clips to fit his narrative and left it up to the viewer to determine what actually happened in his vehicle that night. Very clever and devious on his part.

With doubt floating in the air, our attorneys had the two video clips analyzed. Lo and behold we discovered a red flag, meta data buried deep within the footage which indicated that these clips were intentionally shortened, edited segments from a much longer video. Our attorneys quickly notified the Judge and informed the court of our findings - the footage that Greene/Cruz submitted was likely altered.

The Truth Comes Out, along with everything else

In January of 2020, about 4 months after Greene/Cruz submitted his edited clips, we informed the court in a lengthy letter that the truth was still out there- there was likely missing footage remaining on Greene's iPhone. During COVID, the Court wasted no time issuing several orders to Greene compelling him to surrender his iPhone for forensic analysis. Greene was not about to hand his phone over so fast. He fought and dodged each and every court order for months. By February 2020, the Judge gave Greene an ultimatum- surrender your phone or face imprisonment and heavy fines.

On his last day to comply with the Judge's order, Greene wrote a letter to the court, claiming his phone had been stolen around 5am from his "unlocked" apartment, while he walked his dog. At that point, we believed all was lost and I'd never know what really happened to me that night. He must have destroyed the phone, and likely threw it into the east river somewhere near his apartment.

My husband quickly directed the attorneys to ask the Court to order Apple to turn over any iCloud backups Greene may have had on their servers. A few months later, much to our surprise, Apple supplied a backup of Greene's iPhone to the court appointed forensics company. The iCloud backup was analyzed and the missing footage, which we knew existed, was finally recovered. Rather than the 90 seconds that Greene claimed he recorded, we found over 13 minutes of footage from that night, spanning two different video files.

Trinka Prorrata, a noted expert in the field drug facilitated sexual assault, reviewed the newly discovered footage and determined that it was consistent with a drug-facilitated sexual assault and I was likely under the influence of a substance known as GHB. The expert also discovered, what appeared to be, Greene's hand gun lying on the seat near my body during the assault.

Along with the missing footage, we also found a treasure trove of emails, images, and thousands of text messages which blew the doors open on my lawsuit and my husband's. The communications between Greene/Cruz, the Ribacoffs, IIG, and the other investigators turned out to be the written evidence we needed to prove our allegations of fraud and the inappropriate interactions which took place. The Ribacoffs, who manage International Investigative Group (IIG) and my case, were clearly aware that their investigators were interacting with me on a regular basis, despite claims that company policies prohibit such behavior. IIG was also aware of the physical contact that occurred with at least 3 of their investigators, yet never reported these men to the authorities, stopped the investigation, or notified my husband or his attorney. We also discovered that IIG polygraphed at least two of the investigators (including Greene/Cruz) they suspected of inappropriate contact with me. Both investigators failed the polygraphs, yet the investigation continued and I continued to be exploited. Much of this evidence will be included in the detail section of my site.

After all the victim shaming that Greene/Cruz and the other defendants spewed, I was finally vindicated! Greene's iCloud backup provided all the proof. It was the "smoking gun" we needed. Not only was there considerably more footage recorded by Greene/Cruz, but this footage we found contained the incriminating segments he edited out. Including a pan to my catatonic face, my disheveled hair, my head jammed up against his passenger door, my lack of movement and verbalization. The graphic statements that Greene claimed I said, actually came from him, which he eliminated from his edits. He also cut the portions of footage where he forcibly grabbed my hands and arms and positioned them for his camera. I hardly uttered any spoken words and was clearly in distress. He hovered over me, violating my body over and over again while I remained on my back in a lifeless state. Nothing was found to indicate that I raped him, quite the opposite in fact! According to the Judge's decision, Greene/Cruz had lied to the court and attempted to destroy critical evidence in my case.

Although Greene described the events in graphic detail and the order they allegedly unfolded that night, we discovered a second video he recorded almost 10 minutes earlier, which revealed an entirely different set of facts. This additional footage depicted Greene violating my body violently and repeatedly, while I appeared to be in an incapacitated, non-communicative, and unaware of what was happening to me at the time.

As alleged, this man had tried to dupe the court, my husband, myself, and my attorneys for months with his false narrative, victim shaming, and doctored evidence. This was a case of criminal contempt at its highest level. Greene/Cruz had been exposed attempting to both destroy and alter evidence in my rape case. If that doesn't imply guilt, I don't know what would? Shortly after this intentional manipulation of evidence was exposed my attorneys filed a criminal and civil contempt motion. We asked for an immediate hearing, imprisonment, and significant financial penalties to repay the costs we incurred recovering the missing footage.

A criminal contempt hearing (mini trial) was held in August 2021 and January 2022. Greene was found guilty of destroying and altering evidence in my rape case and was held in both criminal and civil contempt. After reviewing the entirety of the footage and rendering her decision, the Judge noted that I appeared to be "minimally responsive," which validated my claims that he must have assaulted me while I was incapacitated.

The Court issued a judgment against Greene requiring him to repay the substantial forensic costs and attorney fees we incurred to recover the footage he attempted to destroy and alter.

The District Attorney, State Attorney General, Dept. of State

With all the evidence now in hand, our attorneys reached out to the local District Attorney's office in Nassau County, NY, the New York State Attorney General Letitia James , and the New York Department of State (D.O.S.), which overseas P.I. licenses. In a nut shell, our pleas for criminal and state intervention fell on deaf ears. All of the compelling and overwhelming evidence we supplied was ignored by law enforcement and state agencies. As a result, we had no choice but to continue the civil lawsuits and self-prosecute these cases.

We can only assume, that because of the number of former police officers involved and it being an election year for these officials (including the Governor), the agencies looked away to avoid embarrassment and scandal. In the end, only International Investigative Group (IIG), received an official written admonishment or "slap on the wrist" from the Department of State for not finger printing and hiring Greene, who was unlicensed and working for them as an independent contractor instead of as an employee.

Our efforts underscore the urgent need for more stringent regulation and oversight of the private investigative industry. These men essentially leveraged me with their state licensed authority and power.

Greene / Cruz / Moretti is Deposed on Video for Over 7 Hours

On September 13, 2023, months before the trial, Greene was subpoenaed for a video deposition at my attorney's office. He was sworn in and provided testimony for over 7 hours. He needed an armed security present just in case. I was only a few feet away from the same individual who had sexually assaulted me, raped me, and recorded the rape for his own pleasure while I was incapacitated, as I alleged in my lawsuit. I could barely stand looking at him and needed to leave the room several times while he testified.

Every question my attorney threw at him and every one of his evasive answers, in the face of overwhelming evidence, was captured on video. This NYPD detective turned perpetrator was exposed on video covering up my rape, intentionally altering the evidence of the rape, and lying to the court on video for the world to see.

Highlights from Greene's video deposition can be found here.

The Trial and Light at the End of the Tunnel

Finally, after almost 6 years of seeking justice, a trial was held in June of 2024 in Nassau County Supreme Court. I was called to the stand and my attorney questioned me. This moment was bitter sweet, I waited years for this day- to tell my story, about how I had been exploited, sexually assaulted, and recorded by this man, this PI and former NYPD police officer - Yanti Michael Greene a/k/a Michael Moretti Ford Cruz. A private investigator hired by Daniel Ribacoff's company, International Investigative Group, also known as IIG.

Greene was representing himself, he was pro se and was able to pepper me with questions on the stand. For the first time in my legal journey, I would be face to face my alleged perpetrator, not his lawyer. I didn't know how I was going to be able to handle it or even remain composed long enough to answer his questions.

True to form, early on we discovered that Greene a/k/a Moretti Ford Cruz was likely recording all verbal testimony being given inside the court room using a speech to text app installed on his laptop into a shared Google Doc, likely monitored by an attorney located somewhere else. This other attorney, who we believe was D'Amato, was able to read everything being recorded by Greene and could provide him with guidance and questions to ask in real time. We brought this discovery to the Judge's attention, and despite the blatant violation of court rules and the obvious conflict with D'Amato being a witness, allowed Greene to continue this charade due to his pro se status.

My attorney began with an opening statement, then submitted evidence into the court record which included a still photo from the missing footage we discovered of my catatonic state on the back seat of Greene's vehicle from that night. He asked difficult questions about my run-ins with Greene when he surveilled me. He asked about Greene's proposal, my willingness to cooperate with him and other investigators, and how they agreed to be less aggressive if I did. Then the questions started about that night, the night I was raped and recorded as I alleged. I broke down several times and sobbed on the stand. The court room was dead silent. The judge looked directly at Greene when I described what he did to me and what I saw from the footage we recovered. You could hear a pin drop in the court room, everyone in the gallery was glued to their seat and hung on my every word.

When I finished with my testimony and before Greene had an opportunity to cross examine me, the Judge suddenly halted the trial. He asked, while I was still on the stand, exactly what I wanted from Greene/Cruz, the remaining defendant in my case. I said I "want that tape," I wanted the rights to the footage that Greene recorded of me in a compromised state, without my knowledge. I wanted to make sure Greene/Cruz could never profit from these videos, leverage me with it, or hold a gun to my head any longer. I said to the Judge that I wanted no money, just that tape.

The Judge then asked to speak with both parties separately inside his chambers. Hours later, after some back and forth, let's just say, I got everything I wanted and this nightmare was finally over without the trial proceeding further.

I feel it's important to share my story because reforms and tougher state regulatory oversight are desperately needed in the private investigative industry. Many of these people are former police officers, have unchecked access to data and personal information, and carry weapons in the field, which enables them to be dangerous and powerful predators. I hope my story encourages others to come forward who've also been victimized and exploited by those in powerful and coercive control positions.

Please reach out., I want to hear your story.

-Susanne