Keith Raniere, the founder of the NXIVM organization at the center of a federal sex-trafficking case, was found guilty Wednesday on all counts of sex-trafficking and other charges, which accused him of coercing women into unwanted sex using systematic shame and humiliation.
Raniere was convicted by a jury in federal court in Brooklyn, according to the Associated Press. His sentencing is set for Sept. 25. Marc Agnifilo, Raniere’s lawyer, said he plans to appeal, the AP reported. The other charges against Raniere included racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy and forced labor conspiracy.
In March 2018, Raniere was arrested in Mexico, where he fled last fall after the New York Times published a report about alleged NXIVM practices like branding women.
Raniere had initially pled not guilty to all charges. Raniere had described NXIVM as a “self-help” group and had a foothold in Hollywood, which included “Smallville” actress Allison Mack. Federal authorities say Raniere and Mack created a secret society within NXIVM in 2015 called “DOS,” where women “slaves” were forced to do the bidding of female “masters.”
Mack pled guilty in April to two counts of racketeering conspiracy and racketeering, according to the Department of Justice. Mack had been accused of recruiting young women into the group and manipulated them into branding their bodies and becoming sex slaves for Raniere. Mack’s sentencing will be decided on Sept. 11 by Judge Nicholas Garaufis. She faces a maximum of 40 years in prison.