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Allison Mack indicted for sex trafficking

Founder of “NXIVM,” a Purported Self-Help Organization, and Actor Indicted for Sex Trafficking and Forced Labor Conspiracy

Defendants Allegedly Branded Their Victims and Forced Them to Participate in Sex Acts

Actor Allison Mack was arrested this morning on an indictment unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging her and Keith Raniere, also known as “Vanguard,” with sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy and forced labor conspiracy.  Mack was arraigned on the indictment this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Cheryl L. Pollak.

Raniere was previously arrested on a complaint and ordered detained.  Raniere will be arraigned on a date to be determined.

“As alleged in the indictment, Allison Mack recruited women to join what was purported to be a female mentorship group that was, in fact, created and led by Keith Raniere,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  “The victims were then exploited, both sexually and for their labor, to the defendants’ benefit.”

“Today we announce an additional arrest, and an indictment, in a case that brought to light an inconceivable crime,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney. “As this pyramid scheme continues to unravel, we ask anyone who might have been a victim to reach out to us with information that may further our investigation.”

If convicted of the crimes charged, Raniere and Mack each face mandatory minimum sentences of 15 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section.  Assistant United States Attorneys Moira Kim Penza and Tanya Hajjar are in charge of the prosecution.  Assistant United States Attorney Karin Orenstein is in charge of the forfeiture portion of the case.

Here is the indictment:

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

– against –

KEITH RANIERE, also known as “Vanguard,” and ALLISON MACK,

Defendants.

THE GRAND JURY CHARGES:

COUNT ONE

(Sex Trafficking – Jane Does 1 and 2) 1.

In or about and between February 2016 and June 2017, both dates being approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the defendants KEITH RANIERE, also known as “Vanguard,” and ALLISON MACK, together with others, did knowingly and intentionally: (1) recruit, entice, harbor, transport, provide, obtain, advertise, maintain, patronize and solicit one or more persons, to wit: Jane Does 1 and 2, individuals whose identities are known to the Grand Jury, in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce, and attempt to do the same; and (2) benefit, and attempt to benefit, financially and by receiving a thing of value, from participation in a venture which had engaged in such acts, knowing that means of force, threats of force, fraud and coercion, and a combination of such means, would be used to cause such persons to engage in one or more commercial sex acts.

(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1), 1591(a)(2), 1591(b)(1), 1594(a), 2 and 3551 et sea.)

COUNT TWO

(Sex Trafficking Conspiracy)

In or about and between February 2016 and June 2017, both dates
being approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the defendants KEITH RANIERE, also known as “Vanguard,” and ALLISON MACK, together with others, did knowingly and intentionally conspire to: (1) recruit, entice, harbor, transport,
provide, obtain, advertise, maintain, patronize and solicit persons, in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce; and (2) benefit, financially and by receiving a thing of value, from participation in a venture which was to have engaged in such acts, knowing that means of force, threats of force, fraud and coercion, and a combination of such means, would be used
to cause such persons to engage in one or more commercial sex acts, contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1), 1591(a)(2), and 1591(b)(1). (Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1594(c) and 3551 et seq.)

COUNT THREE (Conspiracy to Commit Forced Labor – Jane Doe 1)

In or about and between February 2016 and June 2017, both dates
being approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the defendants KEITH RANIERE, also known as “Vanguard,” and ALLISON MACK, together with others, did knowingly and intentionally conspire to provide and obtain the labor and
services of a person, to wit: Jane Doe 1, by means of serious harm and threats of serious harm to her and one or more other persons, and by means of one or more schemes, plans and patterns intended to cause Jane Doe 1 to believe that, if she did not perform such labor and services, Jane Doe 1 and one or more other persons would suffer serious harm, contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1589(a)(2) and 1589(a)(4).

(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1594(b) and 3551 et seg.) CRIMINAL FORFEITURE ALLEGATION

The United States hereby gives notice to the defendants that, upon their conviction of any of the offenses charged herein, the government will seek forfeiture in accordance with Title 18, United States Code, Section 1594(d), of (a) any property, real or personal, that was involved in, used, or intended to be used to commit or to facilitate the commission of such offenses, and any property traceable to such property; and (b) any property, real or personal, constituting or derived from, proceeds obtained directly or indirectly as a result of such offenses, or any property traceable to such property.
If any of the above-described forfeitable property, as a result of any act or omission of the defendants:

cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence;
has been transferred or sold to, or deposited with, a third party;
has been placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court;
has been substantially diminished in value; or
has been commingled with other property which cannot be divided without difficulty;

it is the intent of the United States, pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(p), to seek forfeiture of any other property of the defendants up to the value of the forfeitable property described in this forfeiture allegation.

(Title 18, United States Code, Section 1594(d); Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(p))

A TRUE BILL

FOREPERSON

RICHARD P. DONOGHUE

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN District of NEW YORK CRIMINAL DIVISION

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

vs.

KEITHRANIERE, also known as “Vanguard, ” and ALLISON MACK,

Defendants.

INDICTMENT

Bail, $

Moira Kim Penza and Tanya Hajjar, Assistant U.S. Attorneys