Thursday, Mar 28 2024 | Time 23:46 Hrs(IST)
image
World


Nxivm leader Keith Raniere found guilty of all charges

Nxivm leader Keith Raniere found guilty of all charges

New York, Jun 20 (UNI) Keith Raniere, the founder of the "Nxivm" self-help company, accused of leading a sex cult that enslaved women was found guilty of all charges against him.
Raniere, 58, was convicted on Wednesday by a jury after a six-week trial in Brooklyn.
Raniere was found guilty on all seven counts, including racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, forced labor conspiracy, sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy and attempted sex trafficking, reported CNN.
He was emotionless as the verdict was read and is due to be sentenced on September 25.
When the verdict was read outside court, former members of Nxivm gave the prosecution team a round of applause.
Raniere was arrested by the FBI in Mexico last year. His defence team said the alleged sexual relationships were consensual and they plan to appeal the case.
During six weeks of testimony in Brooklyn federal court, group members told the jury that they were pressured to have sex with Raniere, and were ceremonially branded near their bikini lines - only to realize later that their skin had been marked with Raniere's initials.
The guilty verdict will mark a remarkable fall for Raniere, who created Nxivm in 2003. The self-help group provided classes to nearly 17,000 people, including prominent figures like "Smallville" actress Allison Mack and Seagram's liquor heiress Clare Bronfman.
But within Nxivm, Raniere also ran a secret group known as "DOS" or "The Vow" that functioned like a cult with Raniere at its head. Mack and Bronfman, who were both part of the inner DOS group, pleaded guilty in April to various charges to avoid trial.
Witnesses in court testified that they were blackmailed into silence after being asked to turn damaging personal information over to their "masters."
"The defendant tapped into a never-ending flow of women and money .He was a crime boss with no limits and no checks on his power', prosecutor Moira Penza told jurors in closing arguments on Monday.
Meanwhile, Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo argued that no crimes were committed.
"You may find him repulsive, disgusting and offensive. We don't convict people in this country for being repulsive or offensive. Unpopular ideas aren't criminal. Disgusting ideas aren't criminal', Agnifilo said.
UNI XC AVK 0708

More News

France's Le Pen accuses gov't of 'pickpocketing' French in attempt to cut budget deficit

28 Mar 2024 | 4:19 PM

Paris, Mar 28 (UNI) Marine Le Pen, the leader of the French right-wing National Rally Party's parliamentary faction, has said that the government's reform of social security for the unemployed is an attempt to "pickpocket" the French to reduce the national budget deficit caused by the authorities' failures.

see more..

Turkish Prez's admin denies claims economic outlook grim for next 1 5 yrs

28 Mar 2024 | 4:19 PM

Ankara, Mar 28 (UNI) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's administration has denied social media claims that a long, tough period lies before the country's economy for a year and a half, accusing those who disseminate this disinformation and stoking panic ahead of the municipal elections slated for Sunday.

see more..

US agencies didn't share all data about threat of terror attack with Russia: NYT

28 Mar 2024 | 4:12 PM

Washington, Mar 28 (UNI) US intelligence agencies did not provide the Russian side with all the information they had about the threat of a terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in the Moscow Region, The New York Times reported on Thursday, citing European and US security officials.

see more..

Russia working with China, Turkey, UAE on payments constructively

28 Mar 2024 | 4:07 PM

Moscow, Mar 28 (UNI) Russia is working with China, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates on the issue of payments very constructively and takes into account the possibility of pressure from the United States and the European Union, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

see more..

Over 12,500 criminal suspects apprehended in Afghan

28 Mar 2024 | 3:29 PM

Kabul, Mar 28 (UNI) The Afghan police have arrested 12,540 suspects criminal over the past six months across the country, the Ministry of Interior Affairs said on Thursday.

see more..
image