The founder of the cult, Keith Raniere, has been sentenced to 120 years in prison.
The founder of the cult, Keith Raniere, has been sentenced to 120 years in prison.
So what exactly happened that got him this sentence?
HBO’s The Vow
Raniere began his mass mental manipulation during his seminars where he taught the ethical framework of humankind.
The first session was 5 days long and cost $2700.
From 1998 to 2018, over 16,000 people across the North American continent attended Ranieres seminars.
NXIVM Founder Keith Raniere (NBC Nightly News)
Some estimates are up to 18,000.
A forensic scientist named John Hochman stated the seminars were aimed at breaking down his subjects psychologically.
These seminars were also said to cure a myriad of mental health problems including OCD and Tourettes.
A photograph of a DOS brand.
One couple reported that they had to file for bankruptcy after spending over $300,000 on seminars.
NXIVM was, say, the umbrella cult.
There were several smaller off-shoots that were even sicker than the last.
The sex cult was one of these off-shoots called Dominus Obsequious Sororium (DOS).
It basically means lord over the obedient female companions.
This was a secret sexual society of women involving masters and slaves.
They were forced to be sickly thin and wait around naked until Raniere wanted to have sex with them.
Women were told they were monogamous while men were polygamous.
In a disturbing video, a woman is branded on her pelvic area with Ranieres and Macks initials.
The slaves were made to sit naked in front of Raniere while he lectured them.
If he was not there, they had to take a group picture and send it to him.
The slaves had to answer texts from masters within 60 seconds or else they would be punished with starvation.
Her vocal support of the cult brought in celebrity visitors, including the Dali Lama.
All of the women in the inner circle have been charged for their involvement.
in the middle of his speech.
