The founder of an Upstate New York sex cult has been found guilty on all charges in Brooklyn federal court. Keith Raniere has been convicted on racketeering, sex trafficking, forced labor and child pornography charges. He faces up to life in prison at sentencing.
The trial of the 58-year-old founder of NXIVM [[nexium]] lasted seven weeks, but the jury deliberated for less than five hours in finding Raniere guilty. NXIVM had marketed itself as a self-help group for women and Raniere had claimed his sexual relationships were all consensual.
"This trial has revealed that Raniere, who portrayed himself as a savant and a genius, was in fact a massive manipulator, a con man, and the crime boss of a cult-like organization,” U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District, Richard P. Donoghue, told reporters. “He was involved in sex trafficking, child pornography, extortion, compelled abortions, branding, degradation and humiliation.” Raniere’s lawyers have already said they plan to appeal.
Source: BBC News