NXIVM, founded by Keith Raniere, is an organisation that allegedly brainwashed and blackmailed women into being ‘sex slaves’. In March of 2018, Raniere was arrested and charged with sex trafficking for his role in the group, and the organisation has crumbled.
Since Raniere’s arrest, federal prosecutors have charged several more people for their involvement – including Smallville actress Allison Mack who pleaded guilty on April 8.
The reports of NXIVM are disturbing, to say the least, with claims the purported “self-help organisation” was instead a front for a sex cult that branded numerous female members with Raniere’s initials and coerced them into “master-slave” relationships.
Below, some of the most disturbing details from the case.
Prosecutors believe that founder Keith Raniere had sex with a 15-year-old girl, who later became his first “slave”
Raniere, who is already facing forced labour, wire fraud conspiracy, human trafficking and sex trafficking charges, was hit with an additional charge of child pornography. According to prosecutors, Raniere documented himself engaging in sexual conduct with a 15-year-old girl, who would go on to become his first “slave.” Prosecutors also accused Raniere of having had a sexual relationship with at least one other child, and of possessing child pornography between 2005 and 2018.
Co-founder Nancy Salzman admitted in court that she tracked and monitored women within NXIVM
Nancy Salzman, who plead guilty to racketeering conspiracy, confessed in court on March 13 that she tracked and monitored the usernames and passwords of suspected moles in the group to ensure they weren’t leaking details. She also admitted that she ordered others to “destroy videotapes” that documented Raniere’s “teachings.”
Nancy Salzman’s daughter Lauren admitted to keeping a woman as a slave
On April 2, Lauren Salzman pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, revealing that she had “knowingly and intentionally harboured” unnamed woman in a locked room from March 2010 to April 2012.
Actress Allison Mack “took full responsibility” for her involvement in NXIVM
Smallville actress Allison Mack, pleaded guilty on April 8 to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of racketeering. “I have come to the conclusion that I must take full responsibility for my conduct, and that’s why I am pleading guilty today,” she said at the trial.
“I’m very sorry for the victims of this case,” she said in court. “I’m very sorry for who I’ve hurt through my misguided adherence to Keith Raniere’s teachings.”
