FBI accused of evidence tampering in NXIVM cult leader's defense.

According to court documents, evidence for some of the most shocking charges against a convicted sex trafficker was tampered with and planted on storage drives that were supposed to be in secure FBI custody, say expert cybercrime analysts.

In Tuscon, Arizona, Keith Raniere, 64, is currently serving a 120-year sentence at a federal prison for founding an NXIVM sex cult that recruited women and girls under the guise of a self-help organization. He had an "inner circle" of "slaves" and "masters," and some of the women were branded with his initials. Prosecutors also claim that he held a domestic servant captive in a room for nearly two years.

India Oxenberg, one survivor, revealed on the Planet Chronicle True Crime Podcast that she experienced "dehumanizing" treatment, including "repeated molestation and rape" before escaping the cult with her mother.

The FBI declined to comment when reached by Planet Chronicle Digital.

Federal prosecutors accused Raniere of abusing a 15-year-old child victim, identified as "Camila," and taking photos of her for sexual purposes.

Tully, Raniere's lead attorney, stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that the evidence used to convict his client of the "most heinous" charges - child pornography and child exploitation - was "provably" doctored and planted by the FBI.

He stated that if he could have a hearing, he could prove that the tampering occurred while in FBI custody, despite how unbelievable it may seem.

Dozens of photographs on a memory card and hard drive were altered by defense experts, allegedly making it seem like a young woman was under the age of consent when they were taken. Between April 2019 and June 2019, additional photos were added to the FBI's forensic report, according to court filings.

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Raniere's legal team did not include Alan Dershowitz, but he consulted with their attorneys after discovering allegations of FBI misconduct.

If Raniere's experts are correct, it would amount to a "staggering government act of misconduct," which could affect other cases.

The prosecution's case was strengthened by the late introduction of charges involving a child.

"The defendant had a very weak case against him, but he could have easily won it. However, at the last minute, the prosecution discovered a photograph of a naked female who they claimed was underage, which ended the case."

Another defendant quickly accepted a plea deal, while four other co-defendants eventually opted to plead guilty as well.

Read the affidavit of Dr. Kiper:

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Defense experts have claimed in court filings that the photographs were taken when the woman was over the age of consent and were later manipulated to make it appear as though they had been taken earlier.

""Why should we not have a hearing? This is not limited to Mr. Raniere, but involves every American. When someone is in jail due to tampered evidence, it is not the United States of America, but rather the Soviet Union, Iran, or China," Dershowitz stated."

The FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office have not yet responded to the defense experts' findings in the case, and a response is not due in court until January 27.

Tully, the author of a 2018 book on criminal justice corruption, stated that Raniere's alleged framing by the FBI or federal prosecutors may have been due to his wealthy enemies and unpopular status.

""When the popular kid in school wants to make one of the poorer kids who has holes in his shoes the laughingstock of the school, they do it. And that sort of human behavior doesn't change when those kids grow up and become prosecutors," he told Planet Chronicle Digital."

Despite Newsweek reporting allegations against Raniere in late December, he has yet to receive a hearing after nearly a month.

"Dershowitz stated that the government is determined to prevent a hearing from taking place, as they do not want the public to discover that seven experts, including some who worked for the FBI, have declared that the evidence in question was tampered with."

In a court filing, Raniere's defense lawyers are requesting a new trial, claiming that the government intentionally used tampered evidence to secure a conviction, as determined by the opinions of seven of their experts.

NXIVM, which was led by Raniere, was labeled as a cult that focused on sex trafficking and abuse. Notable women, including actress Allison Mack and Seagram's heiress Clare Bronfman, were drawn to his wellness program and were later convicted of lesser charges.

The key claim in the racketeering trial against Raniere was that he had a sexual relationship with "Camila," the purported 15-year-old girl. He was given a 120-year prison sentence.

WATCH: NXIVM cult survivor recounts mental, physical abuse

Dr. Richard Kiper, a renowned cybersecurity and digital evidence expert, and a former FBI agent, stated in a 59-page affidavit that during his review of the case for the defense, he found evidence of specific actions that were taken to manipulate the evidence in support of the prosecution's claims.

"During my 20 years as an FBI agent, I have never accused an FBI employee of tampering with evidence, whether digital or physical. However, in this specific case, I am convinced that the numerous, deliberate changes to the digital information I have uncovered amount to evidence manipulation."