Nxivm cult founder Keith Raniere sentenced to 120 years in prison by New York court
Keith Raniere, the founder of a cult-like group where followers were kept on starvation diets, branded with his initials, and ordered to have sex with him, has been sentenced to 120 years in prison.
US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis handed down the sentence and a $1.75 million (£1.35m) fine in federal court in Brooklyn after a lengthy hearing featuring statements by victims of a sex-trafficking conspiracy that resulted in Raniere's conviction last year.
Federal prosecutors had pushed for “unrepentant” Raniere, 60, to remain behind bars for life as punishment for the "immeasurable damages" to victims he exploited as head of Nxivm, a purported self-help group based near Albany, New York.
Raniere was convicted in June 2019 of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, possession of child pornography and other crimes, after jurors heard extensive testimony from former Nxivm members.
Prosecutors detailed how he managed over the years to attract millionaires, Hollywood actresses and socialites into his cult. He used shame and guilt to influence and control co-conspirators who helped recruit and groom sexual partners for him.
Raniere created a secret sorority within Nxivm, where female "slaves" turned over nude photos and other compromising materials that could be used for blackmail if they tried to leave.
Raniere was also accused by prosecutors of having a sexual relationship with a girl starting when she was 15, and who later became part of his inner circle of slaves. Prosecutors said he kept nude photos of the girl, which are the basis of the child pornography charge.
At a sentencing hearing in Brooklyn on Tuesday, the victims, most of whom were women, described what they called the devastating impact Raniere had on their lives.
The first to speak, identified in court only as Camila, recounted a 12-year sexual relationship with Raniere starting when she was 15 and he was 45.
"He screwed with my mind for so long that trying to find the strength and clarity to tell my story has been a slow and painful journey," she said.
Nonetheless, the girl's father was among more than 50 people who wrote letters to Garaufis urging leniency for Raniere. Many said their lives had been greatly improved by Nxivm classes, which could cost thousands of dollars.
Between 1998 and 2018, Nxivm developed a following primarily through its personal development seminars, recruiting several celebrities and socialites, including Battlestar Galactica actress Nicki Clyne and India Oxenberg, a distant relative of the British royal family.
Five women who had been part of the Nxivmleadership have pleaded guilty to crimes related to the scheme. Among them is Clare Bronfman, heiress to the Seagram's liquor fortune, who was sentenced in September to nearly seven years in prison.
Others recruited to Nxivm included Allison Mack, the Hollywood actress who starred in Smallville.
Raniere has remained defiant. In a court filing last month, his lawyers said Raniere maintained his "complete innocence," and viewed his conviction as the result of a "media campaign involving witnesses who were motivated to testify falsely" at "an unfair trial."
In an interview with NBC News before his sentencing, Raniere said he “apologised” for his “participation in all of this pain and suffering. I've clearly participated. I've been the leader of the community.”
“I am innocent. And although it is, this is a horrible tragedy with many, many people being hurt, I think the main thrust of this has been the oppression but really a different issue, which is hard for me to express. There is a horrible injustice here. And whether you think I'm the devil or not, the justice process has to be examined.”
