NXIVM Cult Founder Sentenced to Prison for 120 Years

Keith Raniere, founder and leader of NXIVM, has been sentenced to 120 years in prison. His charges include sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy and conspiracy to commit forced labor. Many victims, including a woman who claimed she was sexually exploited at the age of 15, spoke in court against the leader.

Raniere founded NXIVM in 1998, along with Nancy Salzman. It was set to be a personal development company but its critics continued to brand it as a cult. Despite this, many prominent people became part of the company, including Sara and Clare Bronfman, daughters of Edgar Bronfman Sr of Seagrams. Smallville actresses Kristin Kreuk and Allison Mack also became a part of the company, but while Kreuk eventually left NXIVM, Mack continued on and eventually became part of the inner circle. 

After an expose in 2017 saying that some of the female members were being forced into sexual slavery, more and more witnesses came out to speak against the company. Allegations were made that some of them were branded by a cauterizing pen while naked and blindfolded. 

By 2018, many of the prominent members, including Raniere, Salzman, Mack, and the Bronfman sisters were arrested. Mack, who was charged for recruiting the women who eventually became sexual slaves, has pleaded guilty to racketeering. She is currently awaiting her sentence, along with Sara Bronfman.