Keith Raniere, Founder Of The NXIVM Sex Cult, Was Sentenced To 120 Years In Prison

Keith Raniere, the founder of a sex cult that operated under the guise of the self-help group NXIVM, was sentenced to 120 years in prison.

Raniere, 60, was convicted last year of sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy, racketeering, and conspiracy to commit forced labor. During the nearly six-week trial in a federal court in Brooklyn, several women testified they were coerced into joining a secret women’s group within NXIVM, where they entered “master” and “slave” relationships and were branded with Raniere’s initials near their pelvises using a cauterizing pen.

Fifteen of Raniere's victims testified at his sentencing on Tuesday, describing the brutal sexual abuse he subjected them to, according to the New York Times.

One woman, who was identified as Camila, said she was 15 when Raniere began abusing her for 12 years. She said he forced her to weigh under 100 pounds, expected sex whenever he decided he wanted it, and made her get an abortion. As a result, she attempted suicide one time.

“I want to move on, but he has damaged me in so many ways,” Camila said.

Another victim, India Oxenberg, said Raniere made her walk around in the nude, isolated her from her mother, and made her lose so much weight she stopped menstruating... (Read more)

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