“Horror story”: 120 years of imprisonment for the founder of the bizarre “sex cult”

“Like a horror story”: 120 years of imprisonment for the founder of the bizarre “sex cult”

The founder of a bizarre New York sex cult will have to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

A Brooklyn borough court on Tuesday (local time) sentenced 60-year-old Keith Raniere to a 120-year sentence after being convicted of sex trafficking, sexual exploitation and fraud in June 2019. In addition, Judge Nicholas Garaufis ordered a fine of 1.75 million dollars (approximately 1.59 million Swiss francs). The prosecution had already asked for a life sentence for Raniere, the defense at 15.

The 120-year prison sentence shows the “scale of the horrific crimes,” said prosecutor Seth DuCharme. “Ranieres’ regime of control over women he has hurt physically and emotionally is like a horror story,” said New York FBI deputy chief William Sweeney. “The sexual exploitation, abuse, loneliness and mind control that the victims experienced under his leadership are unimaginable. Today the judge gave him 120 years to ponder whether the torture he inflicted on people for over a decade and the desperation he inflicted on their families were ultimately worth it. “

Prior to the announcement, 15 victims had reported Raniere’s crime and suffering in court for hours, including actress Catherine Oxenberg’s daughter. “You are a sex offender and you raped me,” India Oxenberg said in court in Raniere, as reported by the US media. “My wonderful daughter … so brave,” mother Catherine Oxenberg wrote via the Twitter short message service. “My heart breaks.” Another woman reported how Raniere raped her as a minor.

No mercy

The 60-year-old had shown no remorse during the procedure and recently repeatedly unsuccessfully requested a new procedure. During the sentence, he continued to plead his innocence and accused some of the women of lying, but he also said he was “very sorry” for causing so much pain and anger. Numerous supporters of Raniere had gathered before the court.

In the late 1990s, Raniere founded the Nxivm organization, based near Albany, New York, which was officially marketed as a self-help group, but was unofficially some kind of “sex cult.” The women are said to have been sexually abused there and even branded with Raniere’s initials. According to media reports, around 18,000 people have attended the organization’s expensive “self-optimization courses”.

In early October, millionaire heiress Clare Bronfman had already been sentenced to 81 months in prison as Raniere’s assistant. He is said to have backed Nxvim with his assets from the former alcohol company Seagram and his social status and intimidated opponents. Bronfman’s attorney had announced that they would challenge the verdict. Four other Raniere aides have pleaded guilty and are currently awaiting their respective sentences – including German-born actress Allison Mack, who became famous with, among other things, the TV series “Smallville”. (sda / dpa)