Jun 23, 2021
Former “Smallville” actress Allison Mack has turned over a “substantial” amount of potentially incriminating information regarding the inner workings of the infamous NXIVM sex cult founded by Keith Raniere. Mack participated in the NXIVM (pronounced Nexium) cult as a “master” who would recruit women as “slaves,” according to court documents.
In 2019, Mack pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and racketeering relating to her alleged role in the high-profile NXIVM sex trafficking case. She admitted to state law extortion and forced labor as part of her plea. Mack is scheduled to be sentenced on June 30, and a sentencing memo filed Monday reportedly asked the Eastern District of New York to “impose a sentence below the otherwise applicable advisory Guidelines range” on account of Mack’s “assistance” in the case.
Said “assistance” reportedly includes an audio recording of a conversation between Mack and Raniere that prosecutors indicate “served as crucial evidence of Raniere’s role in devising the branding ceremony in which DOS ‘slaves’ were branded with a symbol, that unknown to them, represented Raniere’s own initials.”
Raniere was sentenced to 120 years in prison in November of last year on federal charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, sexual exploitation of a child, child pornography possession, and human trafficking.
FOX News reported that the aforementioned memo indicates that acting U.S. Attorney, Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, and Assistant U.S. Attorney, Tanya Hajjar, believe Mack’s assistance has led to a “wealth of information,” including details of Raniere’s assignments for NXIVM’s DOS “slaves,” (DOS being an acronym for a Latin phrase meaning “Lord/Master of the Obedient Female Companions”).
Additionally, Mack’s information reportedly helped shed light on the disgraced NXIVM leader’s use of “demeaning and derogatory language,” as well as co-defendant Clare Bronfman’s “attempts to harass and threaten DOS victims.”
The memo also includes a transcript of a conversation in which Raniere asks Mack’s opinion of holding a DOS “slave” to a table “completely nude…sort of almost like a sacrifice?” to which the former actress responded, “Yea.”
In the audio recording, Raniere also suggested the idea of Mack videotaping the branding ritual “from different angles,” and suggested “it probably should be a more vulnerable position type of a thing” with the females “laying on the back, legs slightly, or legs spread straight, like feet, feet being held to the side of the table,” according to court documents.
Later in the recorded conversation, Raniere instructed Mack to ensure the women “ask to be branded” beforehand “so it doesn’t seem like they are being coerced.”
The federal government told the court that Mack’s recording “provided critical evidence of Raniere’s role in DOS” and his involvement in the branding ritual which he “repeatedly denied.”
Prosecutors say that in addition to providing evidence against her co-defendants, Mack admitted to her own criminal involvement when meeting with the government on “numerous” occasions.
“As the Court is well aware, DOS was a secret organization led by Keith Raniere and comprised of ‘masters’ who recruited and commanded groups of ‘slaves.’ Allison Mack recruited her own ‘slaves’ by approaching young women and falsely describing Dos as a secret women’s empowerment group or sorority while intentionally concealing Raniere’s role in the organization,” the government said in the memo.
Our Sexual Assault Justice Experts are here to help survivors secure justice. Contact our top-rated attorneys online or by phone for a free consultation today.
Countless NXIVM “slaves” were ordered to provide collateral by “masters” such as Mack and Raniere over several years. In terms of the type of collateral collected by the NXIVM leaders, the government describes the material as including “damaging confessions about themselves and loved ones (truthful or not), rights to financial assets, and sexually explicit photographs and videos – to prevent them from leaving the group or disclosing its existence to others.”
While Mack’s sentencing is scheduled for June 30, the court order indicates it could extend into July 1 “if necessary.” Mack faces 14 to 17 ½ years in prison for her role in the NXIVM sex cult.
Based in Albany, New York, and created in 1998, Keith Raniere’s NXIVM described itself as an organization “working to build a better world” through a “community guided by humanitarian principles that seek to empower people.”
The countless instances of psychological abuse, financial manipulation, and sexual abuse by NXIVM’s leaders have been featured in two recent documentaries – “The Vow” on HBO and “Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult” on STARZ.
Despite NXIVM’s leaders being convicted in criminal court, survivors of abuse (whether physical, psychological, financial, or sexual) can file a lawsuit in civil court in an effort to recover financial compensation for any trauma and losses endured.
Raniere and Mack’s criminal convictions are an entirely separate matter from any civil claims brought against them as individuals, or against the NXIVM organization. Moreover, the outcome of a criminal case does not have an impact on that of a civil case (a well-known example of such a scenario being the O.J. Simpson murder case).
If you’ve been harmed by a NXIVM member, contact the experienced and dedicated sex crime attorneys at Dordulian Law Group (DLG) today. Led by former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County, Sam Dordulian, DLG is the premier and proven firm that gets justice for sexual abuse survivors. Our unique and all-encompassing Sex Crimes Division features a SAJE Team (Sexual Assault Justice Experts) of professionals handpicked by Dordulian to help meet all the challenges survivors may face while navigating the legal process.
With DLG, survivors have a four-tiered network of expert legal representation and support:
Contact our top-rated team of expert sexual abuse attorneys online or by phone today to pursue justice and secure a financial award for damages.
At DLG, we believe survivors of sexual abuse should have access to more than simply the absolute best legal representation available. Given the gravity of such cases, we provide all sexual abuse clients with 24/7 access to the SAJE Team support network, helping to ease the stress that can manifest and ensuring that the survivor’s well-being is always the first priority while pursuing justice.
With a 98% success rate and record of securing over $200,000,000 in settlements and verdicts for our clients, DLG is the unparalleled choice for sexual assault survivors seeking justice. To arrange a free consultation, ask a question, or learn more about how DLG can help you recover the financial compensation you deserve after a sexual assault, contact us today online or by phone at 866-GO-SEE-SAM. We’re available 24/7 to listen, address to your needs, and help you take that first step towards obtaining the justice you deserve.
Sam Dordulian is an award-winning sexual abuse lawyer with over 25 years' experience helping survivors secure justice. As a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for L.A. County, he secured life sentences against countless sexual predators. Mr. Dordulian currently serves on the National Leadership Council for RAINN.
Do you have a case? Let's find out.