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Agence France-Presse

A US jury on Wednesday convicted a “self-help” guru of racketeering, sex trafficking and other crimes for his leadership of a cult-like organisation of sex slaves he branded like cattle.
Keith Raniere, 58, coerced a string of women into having sex with him as the charismatic leader of a life-coaching group he founded in New York state.
Nxivm - pronounced Nexium - had proved a huge draw since its 2003 launch, attracting a coterie of rich and famous devotees such as the Smallville actress Allison Mack, and spreading into cities across the United States.
But Raniere, who was arrested in Mexico in 2018, swapped the personal development training courses for sex sessions as the head of a group of up to 20 women - the youngest of whom was just 15.

He was convicted after a six-week trial on all seven charges, which also included extortion and sexual exploitation of a child, and faces up to a full life term when he is sentenced on September 25.
“This trial has revealed that Raniere, who portrayed himself as a savant and a genius, was in fact, a master manipulator, a con-man and the crime boss of a cult-like organisation,” Richard Donoghue, a federal prosecutor in New York, said after the verdict.
Followers signed up for US$5,000, five-day self-help courses, but some were then financially and sexually exploited and had to follow a restrictive diet as Raniere - known as “Vanguard” - exerted his control, the jury was told.
US sex cult ‘slave’ reveals how she was made to seduce NXIVM leader
In 2015, he established a faction within the group called DOS, a pyramid structure in which the women were “slaves” and “Grand Master” Raniere sat at the top.
The “slaves” were made to have sex with Raniere, hand over personal information and compromising photos - and some of the women were branded with Raniere’s initials as other members held them down.

One woman in her 30s, identified only as Sylvie, recounted during her testimony at the trial that she had joined Nxivm in an effort to grow as a person, but that Raniere and others in the organisation systematically tore her down and she eventually became a “slave” in DOS.
‘Slave’ in US sex cult says founder Keith Raniere held naked meetings
“His crimes, and the crimes of his co-conspirators, ruined marriages, careers, fortunes and lives,” Donoghue said.
While the prosecution portrayed Raniere as a psychological manipulator, the defence asked the jury to focus on whether they saw Raniere’s actions as legal, even if they found them immoral.
The defendant, who vowed through his legal team to appeal the convictions, insisted that all sexual relations within the group were consensual.
“I can’t say I’m terribly surprised,” defence attorney Marc Agnifilo said.
“I told the jury in my opening statement that it was an uphill battle. ... I was a little surprised with the fact that it was every count.”
Five other people were initially charged in the case, including Mack, a German-born American actress who also appeared in the FX sitcom Wilfred, and Seagram liquor company heiress Clare Bronfman, who was accused of using more than US$100 million of her US$2.6 billion estimated net worth to fund the group.
They all pleaded guilty, however, and neither Mack nor Bronfman were required to testify.
Television network HBO said in April it would produce a documentary series on the case.


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Crime

Nxivm trial: ‘sex cult’ leader Keith Raniere faces life in prison after guilty verdict

Nxivm leader Keith Raniere in a courtroom sketch. Photo: Reuters

FILE- In this April 8, 2019 file photo, actress Allison Mack leaves Brooklyn federal court in New York after pleading guilty to racketeering charges in a case involving a cult-like group based in upstate New York called NXIVM. Some speculate that Mack may take the witness stand to testify against Keith Raniere, the group's one-time leader who is facing federal charges of forming a secret society within his organization that forced women to have sex with him. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

In this courtroom artist's sketch, defendant Keith Raniere, center, sits with attorneys Paul DerOhannesian, left, and Marc Agnifilo during closing arguments at Brooklyn federal court, Tuesday, June 18, 2019 in New York. A federal prosecutor said Raniere used his NXIVM organization to "tap into a never-ending flow of women and money." Attorneys for the defendant say he had no criminal intent and that his sexual encounters with followers were consensual. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

‘Lies, secrets and darkness’: sex cult ‘slave’ reveals how she was made to pose nude and seduce NXIVM leader Keith Raniere

A courtroom sketch shows Keith Raniere, seated between his lawyers Paul DerOhannesian (left) and Marc Agnifilo during the first day of his sex trafficking trial on Tuesday. Image: Elizabeth Williams via AP

Seagram heiress Clare Bronfman pleads guilty in NXIVM New York ‘sex slave cult’ case

Clare Bronfman (centre) leaving Federal court in Brooklyn, New York on April 19, 2019. Photo: AP

Kathy Russell, a member of NXIVM, an organization charged with sex trafficking, leaves Brooklyn Federal Court, Monday, April 8, 2019, in New York. Jury selection is set to begin Monday for the trial, expected to detail sensational allegations that a cult-like group based in upstate New York recruited sex slaves for its spiritual leader. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Clare Bronfman, center, a member of NXIVM, an organization charged with sex trafficking, arrives at Brooklyn Federal Court, Monday, April 8, 2019, in New York. Jury selection is set to begin Monday for the trial, expected to detail sensational allegations that a cult-like group based in upstate New York recruited sex slaves for its spiritual leader. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Actress Allison Mack leaves Brooklyn federal court Monday, April 8, 2019, in New York. Mack pleaded guilty to racketeering charges on Monday in a case involving a cult-like group based in upstate New York. The trial is expected to detail sensational allegations that the group, called NXIVM, recruited sex slaves for its spiritual leader, Keith Raniere.(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Keith Raniere, the founder of NXIVM. PHOTO: HANDOUT

Clare Bronfman leaving court with her lawyer Mark Geragos on March 27, 2019. Photo: AP

US ‘sex cult’ leader Keith Raniere may have helped his ‘slaves’, lawyer argues

A courtroom sketch showing NXIVM leader Keith Raniere (centre) sitting between his defence team of Daniella Smith, Paul Derohannesian and Mark Agnifolo during closing arguments in Brooklyn on Monday. Image: Jane Rosenberg via Reuters

Assistant United States Attorney Moira Penza is shown in this courtroom sketch during closing arguments in the trial of Nxivm leader Keith Raniere, facing charges including racketeering, sex trafficing and child pornography in U.S. Federal Court in Brooklyn, New York, U.S., June 17, 2019. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg

Actress Allison Mack, center, leaves after a hearing at Brooklyn Federal Court, Friday May 4, 2018, in New York. The former "Smallville" actress and Keith Raniere, the leader of the self-help group NXIVM are charged with coercing women who joined the organization, into becoming a part of a secret sub-group where they were expected to act as "slaves" and engage in sex acts. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

US sex cult founder Keith Raniere held naked meetings where he lectured women on philosophy, former ‘slave’ Lauren Salzman says

Lauren Salzman leaves Brooklyn federal court in New York in January. Photo: AP

(FILES) In this file photo taken on May 4, 2018, actress Allison Mack (R) departs the United States Eastern District Court after a bail hearing in relation to the sex trafficking charges filed against her in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Clare Bronfman, American heiress to the Seagram liquor fortune, was arrested and charged Tuesday, July 25, 2018 in connection with a secretive society of women sex slaves, before being released on a $100 million bond, US prosecutors said. Allison Mack, a television actress, was also arrested in April on sex trafficking charges for allegedly recruiting women to the purported mentorship group, whom US prosecutors say were forced to have sex with its leader. Members were allegedly treated as slaves -- branded with Raniere's initials while being pinned down naked and filmed at initiation ceremonies. / AFP PHOTO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Jemal Countess

FILE PHOTO: Nancy Salzman, exits following a hearing on charges in relation to the Albany-based organization Nxivm at the United States Federal Courthouse in Brooklyn at New York, U.S., July 25, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

FILE - In this April 13, 2018 courtroom sketch, Keith Raniere, center, leader of the secretive group NXIVM, attends a hearing at court in the Brooklyn borough of New York. A New York City jury is set to hear opening statements and testimony at the sex-trafficking case against a self-help guru. The trial beginning Tuesday, May 7, 2019, is expected to feature testimony from women who claim that they were forced to have sex with Raniere. (Elizabeth Williams via AP, File)

‘Sex cult’ leader Keith Raniere questioned whether child sex abuse was wrong, FBI agent tells court

Keith Raniere, the founder of NXIVM. Photo: handout

Staff and members of the prosecution team push carts full of court documents related to the U.S. v. Keith Raniere case as they arrive at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York a, May 7, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images/TNS) *FOR USE WITH THIS STORY ONLY*

A courtroom sketch from April 2018 shows Keith Raniere (centre) during a hearing in New York. Image: Elizabeth Williams via AP

News

World

United States & Canada

Prosecutors said Keith Raniere’s entire purpose for starting cult was to feed himself an endless supply of sexual partners


Keith Raniere was accused of running a cult-like group in which women were kept on starvation diets, branded with his initials and ordered to have sex with him.


Cults

Sexual harassment and assault

Fame and celebrity

Religion

Nxivm trial: ‘sex cult’ leader Keith Raniere faces life in prison after guilty verdict

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Prosecutors said Keith Raniere’s entire purpose for starting cult was to feed himself an endless supply of sexual partners

Prosecutors said Keith Raniere’s entire purpose for starting cult was to feed himself an endless supply of sexual partners