NXIVM Sex Cult Allegations

Submission 39,155

Overview

NXIVM Sex Cult Allegations refer to allegations that actress Allison Mack, best known for Smallville and Wilfred, recruited women for an organization called NXIVM which, under the guise of a female self-empowerment organization, acquired sensitive information on women then used that information to blackmail them into performing sexual acts with the leader, Keith Raniere. They were also forced into doing menial tasks. The relationship was referred to as "Domunus Obsequious Sororium," which loosely translates to "Lord/Master of the Obedient Female Companions." On April 20th, 2018, Mack was arrested in Brooklyn on charges of sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy and forced labor conspiracy. She was released on $5 million bail to her parent's home in California.

Background

Raniere created the business in 1998 under the name Executive Success Programs.^[1] The business was profiled in 2003 by Forbes, with members saying it was "like a practical M.B.A." while detractors called it "cult-like." At the time, the organization had high-profile members including "Sheila Johnson, cofounder of Black Entertainment Television; Antonia C. Novello, a former U.S. surgeon general; Stephen Cooper, acting chief executive of Enron; the Seagram fortune's Edgar Bronfman Sr. and two of his daughters; and Ana Cristina Fox, daughter of the Mexican president." Mack was reported to have joined in 2010 and eventually became the "second in command" to Raniere.^[2] In 2017, the New York Times^[3] ran an exposé on the cult wherein women detailed how they were made to give nude photographs of themselves to leaders in the organization as collateral to join a secret society within the group called "The Vow." The women were then branded with the initials of Raniere and Mack. In March of 2018, Raniere was arrested in Mexico.^[4] Mack was arrested on April 20th, 2018 in Brooklyn, NY.

Developments

Mack plead not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy and forced labor conspiracy and was released on $5 million bail to her parents home in California, where she was not allowed to use the internet or communicate with any NXIVM members. Her online activities would be monitored. She was also not allowed to travel except for court appearances and court-approved reasons. After the news broke, it was discovered that Mack had seemingly attempted to recruit actress Emma Watson several times on Twitter as well as singer Kelly Clarkson.

On April 24th, 2018, journalist Jill Filipovic^[5] shared an email she had received from Mack in which it appeared Mack was attempting to recruit her (shown below).

The story was covered by several major news outlets, including NBC News,^[6] Daily Beast,^[7] and Rolling Stone.^[8]

Allison Mack Guilty Plea

On April 8th, 2019, Mack plead guilty to racketeering and racketeering conspiracy charges at the Federal District Court in Brooklyn.^[9] She did not address whether women were coerced into having sex with the group’s leader or offer a plea on charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and forced labor. She faces up to 20 years in prison for each count to which she pleaded guilty. As of April 10th, it is unclear if she will enter a cooperative deal with the prosecution.