“Sex-Kult” founder sentenced to 120 years in prison in New York – Südtirol News

The founder of a bizarre New York “sex cult” will have to spend the rest of his life behind bars. A Brooklyn neighborhood court on Tuesday sentenced 60-year-old Keith Raniere to 120 years after he was convicted of sex trafficking, sexual exploitation and fraud in June 2019. Actress Allison Mack (“Smallville”), who is said to have fed women to Raniere, is still waiting for her judgment.

The prosecution had previously called for a life sentence for Raniere, the defense 15 years. The sentence of 120 years in prison shows the “extent of the horrific crimes,” said prosecutor Seth DuCharme. “Raniere’s regime of control over women he has physically and emotionally hurt is like a horror story,” said New York FBI Deputy Chief William Sweeney. In addition, Judge Nicholas Garaufis ordered a fine of 1.75 million dollars (1.48 million euros).

“The sexual exploitation, abuse, loneliness, and mind control that victims have experienced under his guidance are unimaginable. Today the judge has given 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 worth it in the end. ”

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

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

At the end of the 1990s, Raniere founded the Nxivm organization, headquartered near Albany in New York State, which was officially marketed as a self-help group, but was unofficially a kind of “sex cult”. 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”.

At the beginning of October, the millionaire heiress Clare Bronfman had already been sentenced to 81 months in prison as an assistant to Raniere. She is said to have supported Nxvim with her assets from the former spirits company Seagram and her social status and intimidated opponents. Bronfman’s attorney had announced that they would challenge the verdict. Four other Raniere helpers have pleaded guilty and are currently waiting for their respective sentences – including the German-born actress Allison Mack, who became famous with the TV series “Smallville”, among other things.

From: APA / dpa

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