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Posted

https://apnews.com/5792b1ec7c0446629dcd7e13aaf5025d

NEW YORK (AP) — The leader of a secretive group in upstate New York turned female followers into brainwashed "slaves" who were branded with his initials and coerced into having sex, authorities alleged on Monday in a criminal complaint charging him with sex-trafficking.

 

Keith Raniere, co-founder of the group called Nxivm, was arrested in Mexico and returned to Texas Monday, authorities said. He was to appear in court on Tuesday in Fort Worth on the charges filed by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn.

According to the complaint, Raniere — known within the group as "Vanguard" — oversaw a barbaric system in which women were told the best way to advance was to become a "slave" overseen by "masters." They also were expected to have sex with him and do menial chores for masters, and to keep the arrangement a secret or be publicly humiliated, the complaint says.

 

The name of Raniere's attorney wasn't immediately available on Monday. In a letter attributed to Raniere previously posted on a website related to Nxivm, he denied the practices were sanctioned by the self-described self-help group.

 

"These allegations are most disturbing to me as non-violence is one of my most important values," the letter said.

 

The complaint said that many victims participated in videotaped ceremonies where they were branded in their pelvic area with a symbol featuring Raniere's initials.

 

"During the branding ceremonies, slaves were required to be fully naked, and the master would order one slave to film while the other held down the slave being branded," the complaint says.

 

Investigators said Raniere preferred exceptionally thin women, so "slaves" had to stick to very low-calorie diets and document every food they ate. As punishment for not following orders, women were forced to attend classes where they were "forced to wear fake cow udders over their breasts while people called them derogatory names," or threatened with being put in cages, court papers say.

 

Raniere left the United States late last year after The New York Times reported the stories of some women who defected from their secret sorority and the government began interviewing potential witnesses. He sought to cover this trail by using encrypted email and ditching his phone, court papers say.

 

He was ultimately found staying with several women in a luxury gated community in Puerta Vallarta where villas can run $10,000 a week to rent, investigators say. After authorities took him into custody on a U.S. warrant, investigators said the women got into a high-speed car chase.

 

The website related to the group describes Raniere as a "scientist, mathematician, philosopher, entrepreneur, educator, inventor and author" who has "devoted his life to studying the human psychodynamic and developing new tools for human empowerment, expression and ethics."

 

Nxivm's Mexican affiliate is headed by Emiliano Salinas, a son of that country's former president. Several women who belong to the group in Mexico have traveled to Albany, where they were branded, two former Nxivm members told the Times.

 

Salinas has also denied that the sorority is affiliated with Nxivm.

 

Raniere and Nxivm have been the subject of criticism for years, dating back to at least 2012 when the Times Union of Albany published a series of articles examining the organization and allegations that it was like a cult.

 

Over the years, Nxivm has attracted a following that includes Emmy Award-winning actress Allison Mack. Authorities also say Raniere has been bankrolled by Clare Bronfman, an heiress to the Seagram's liquor fortune.

 

Bronfman gave millions of dollars covering expenses like private air travel costing $65,000 flight, court papers say.

Posted (edited)

Assuming these were adults, and he didn't prevent them from leaving, where is the crime here?  He found a bunch of weak minded women, brainwashed them, and then had sexual relations with them. Sounds like a baller to me. 

Edited by cabowabo
  • Like 1
Posted
3 minutes ago, cabowabo said:

Assuming these were adults, and he didn't prevent them from leaving, where is the crime here?  He found a bunch of weak minded women, brainwashed them, and then had sexual relations with them.

I think he may have sold their services for profit.  

 

idi-pimp.gif?w=650

  • Like 3
Posted
3 minutes ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

I think he may have sold their services for profit.  

 

idi-pimp.gif?w=650

Biggest laugh I've had on Surly so far.

 

 

Posted
3 hours ago, pyrohornIII said:

I was trying to decode Nxivm, thinking it was Roman numerals...but they don't use an N.  Next idea?

Nexium. Sex slaves prevent heartburn

Posted

Sounds like he tried to parlay a pseudo-religious sex cult and MLM into some sort of hybrid entity. He should have just chosen one and stuck with it. Let this be a lesson to all you aspiring entrepreneurs out there.

  • 4 weeks later...
Posted

With all due respect to the seriousness of the charges and the heinous nature of these crimes...

... I would volunteer to be her human trafficked sex slave.

Posted
38 minutes ago, woohorn said:

With all due respect to the seriousness of the charges and the heinous nature of these crimes...

... I would volunteer to be her human trafficked sex slave.

I’d stick it in her heinous. 

  • Like 3
  • Haha 2
Posted
1 hour ago, woohorn said:

With all due respect to the seriousness of the charges and the heinous nature of these crimes...

... I would volunteer to be her human trafficked sex slave.

Apparently she led the underling slaves to him.  Let us know how that goes for you. And post pics of your brand.

Posted
2 hours ago, formermav43 said:

Apparently Kristin Kreuk was in the cult for several years, but left it awhile ago and denies ever knowing about any of this sex slave stuff.

What is it with Smallville?

Tell me more about Kristin Kruek and all the sex

Posted (edited)

While this Rainiere guy sounds like a creep and a perv and maybe deserves to be indicted, as usual, I am highly skeptical of the FBIs involvement and the labeling of this as "sex trafficking."

Now, sex trafficking or human trafficking is a worldwide problem, yes.  But this, this has exactly zero to do with the worldwide problem, as seems to be a common thread among federal prosecutions for sex trafficking.

As near as I can tell, this happened almost exclusively within the State of New York, which I am sure has adequate criminal laws and law enforcement personnel to address the misdeeds of Raniere and now Allison Mack.  And I rather seriously doubt that the investigation of same required some of the high-tech resources of the FBI.

What this is, is a high profile case that can be labeled "sex trafficking111!!!!111" despite the fact that it has precisely zero to do with the global problem.  And the FBI/USAO likes em some high profile cases.  There is no federal interest in this case that I can discern, but our Congress, in their infinitesimal wisdom, has decided votes could be had for addressing a "global problem" by creating a series of sex trafficking offenses with no doubt draconian penalties and then making it a priority for the FBI.

Our tax money at work!!!

 

PS this pandering by federal politicians for votes using crime bills and criminal laws is directly and proximately caused by the "Drug War."  Prior to the 1970s, federal politicians didn't largely view criminal laws as a high priority because states were primarily responsible for them.  But when they found out that they could secure votes from a fearful and ignorant electorate, it was Nelly bar the door.

Edited by TwiceHorn
Posted (edited)
5 minutes ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

It could have been some other high profile FBI investigation in NY that lead them to the sex cult.

Fine.  Leave it to the NY authorities.  But, it didn't.  It was no doubt something that the feds decided hey, look, a high-profile case, lots of press, and SEX TRAFFICKING.  It's also the way they approach domestic terrorism cases.  They're so busy warring with other agencies over who gets the credit for high-profile cases that they can't do things like, you know, protect the country from internal threats.

Edited by TwiceHorn
Posted
Just now, TwiceHorn said:

Fine.  Leave it to the NY authorities.  But, it didn't.  It was no doubt something that the feds decided hey, look, a high-profile case, lots of press, and SEX TRAFFICKING.  It's also the way they approach domestic terrorism cases.

The press on this story has been below the radar in the media.  It’s not getting any real airplay in the MSM outlets and believe me, I’ve been paying attention.

That should tell you something.

Posted (edited)

Having spent a fair amount of time in Hollywood, it's eye opening how many extremely impressionable people are aspiring actor types who get sucked into culty shit.  Scientology of course is GOAT at that, but I think their game would recognize this guy's game.  Especially since he lacked the Tom Cruise and Travolta cachet and took a more MLM route.

 

But honestly if it's not Scientology or this, it's some shit like Crossfit or The Secret.  There's an endless supply of motivational bullshit and an endless demand for it out there. Lots of pretty young actresses get totally bamboozled by this.  They're much better off doing porn in the valley.

Edited by chainsaw
a word
Posted
On 4/21/2018 at 6:52 PM, Hugo Stiglitz said:

The press on this story has been below the radar in the media.  It’s not getting any real airplay in the MSM outlets and believe me, I’ve been paying attention.

That should tell you something.

That the FBI is bad at picking "high profile" cases, too?

Posted (edited)

If cult leader was selling brainwashed girls sex services for profit across the U.S. border, I’d say that falls into sex trafficking and FBI jurisdiction.

 

Quote

Nxivm's Mexican affiliate is headed by Emiliano Salinas, a son of that country's former president. Several women who belong to the group in Mexico have traveled to Albany, where they were branded, two former Nxivm members told the Times.

Edited by Hugo Stiglitz
Posted
2 hours ago, Steel Shank said:

A religion of laying pipe, you say? Hmmmm.

She apparently tried to reach out to Emma Watson on twitter.  Imagine the shitstorm if she had pulled that off.  That cult would have had thousands of of lonely men beating down the doors to get in.

  • 2 months later...
Posted

Seagram's heiress (about $300mm net worth at one point) just got pulled into this.  It will be interesting to see how much further this goes.  If you look at their website with the slant that it is a human trafficking ring then you start to get sick to your stomach.  The company is about supporting kids and people to feel good about themselves which means their targets are kids and people who have no self esteem.  disgusting.

  • Like 1
Posted
On 4/21/2018 at 6:24 PM, TwiceHorn said:

While this Rainiere guy sounds like a creep and a perv and maybe deserves to be indicted, as usual, I am highly skeptical of the FBIs involvement and the labeling of this as "sex trafficking."

Now, sex trafficking or human trafficking is a worldwide problem, yes.  But this, this has exactly zero to do with the worldwide problem, as seems to be a common thread among federal prosecutions for sex trafficking.

As near as I can tell, this happened almost exclusively within the State of New York, which I am sure has adequate criminal laws and law enforcement personnel to address the misdeeds of Raniere and now Allison Mack.  And I rather seriously doubt that the investigation of same required some of the high-tech resources of the FBI.

What this is, is a high profile case that can be labeled "sex trafficking111!!!!111" despite the fact that it has precisely zero to do with the global problem.  And the FBI/USAO likes em some high profile cases.  There is no federal interest in this case that I can discern, but our Congress, in their infinitesimal wisdom, has decided votes could be had for addressing a "global problem" by creating a series of sex trafficking offenses with no doubt draconian penalties and then making it a priority for the FBI.

Our tax money at work!!!

 

PS this pandering by federal politicians for votes using crime bills and criminal laws is directly and proximately caused by the "Drug War."  Prior to the 1970s, federal politicians didn't largely view criminal laws as a high priority because states were primarily responsible for them.  But when they found out that they could secure votes from a fearful and ignorant electorate, it was Nelly bar the door.

got a broad in the car...took her across the state line....that's a Mann Act.  and i don't think he's got her permission, and that's kidnapping.

  • Haha 1
Posted
1 hour ago, Kyrie Eleison said:

got a broad in the car...took her across the state line....that's a Mann Act.  and i don't think he's got her permission, and that's kidnapping.

that's a paddlin'

  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
Posted (edited)
On 3/26/2018 at 10:28 PM, cabowabo said:

Assuming these were adults, and he didn't prevent them from leaving, where is the crime here?  He found a bunch of weak minded women, brainwashed them, and then had sexual relations with them. Sounds like a baller to me.  

For some reason when I read this I picture the Indian guy from Parks and Recreation.

Edited by jdhorn92
  • Like 1
Posted
On 3/26/2018 at 9:28 PM, cabowabo said:

Assuming these were adults, and he didn't prevent them from leaving, where is the crime here?  He found a bunch of weak minded women, brainwashed them, and then had sexual relations with them. Sounds like a baller to me. 

😂

Posted
On 3/26/2018 at 10:28 PM, cabowabo said:

Assuming these were adults, and he didn't prevent them from leaving, where is the crime here?  He found a bunch of weak minded women, brainwashed them, and then had sexual relations with them. Sounds like a baller to me. 

Sounds like college.

Posted
7 hours ago, Jhawk said:

Seagram's heiress (about $300mm net worth at one point) just got pulled into this.  It will be interesting to see how much further this goes.  If you look at their website with the slant that it is a human trafficking ring then you start to get sick to your stomach.  The company is about supporting kids and people to feel good about themselves which means their targets are kids and people who have no self esteem.  disgusting.

The Seagram's heiress has been involved a for a while.   She's also fucking batshit crazy.

Posted
On 3/26/2018 at 10:28 PM, cabowabo said:

Assuming these were adults, and he didn't prevent them from leaving, where is the crime here?  

Are you asking in a legal sense or in a grammar and/or spelling sense?

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