Judge rules that NXIVM leader Keith Raniere’s accusers can make impact statements at his sentencing

Brooklyn federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis (pictured) ruled on Tuesday that the accusers will be allowed to make impact statements at Keith Raniere’s sentencing and will not be forced to reveal their identities

A New York judge will allow the victims of NXIVM sex cult leader Keith Raniere to make impact statements during his upcoming sentencing.  

Brooklyn federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis ruled on Tuesday that the accusers will not be forced to reveal their identities.

‘The court already granted a nearly identical application from the government permitting victims to testify under pseudonyms at his trial because … Mr. Raniere failed to identify a particularized need for this information to be disclosed in open court,’ the judge said, according to the New York Post. 

Garaufis also noted that Raniere will still be provided with the full name of witnesses who submit statements to the court.

Prosecutors in the case had argued that allowing the victims to keep their identities secret at the sentencing would protect them from possible retaliation. 

Raniere’s attorney responded by saying that there is no evidence that his client has tried to retaliate against his accusers.

His lawyer said that while he may learn the names, their real identities will be sealed off to the public.  

Raniere will be sentenced this month on charges of trafficking and racketeering after being convicted last year.  

Prosecutors in the case had argued that allowing the victims to keep their identities secret at the sentencing would protect them from possible retaliation. Raniere's attorney responded by saying that there is no evidence that his client has tried to retaliate against his accusers

Prosecutors in the case had argued that allowing the victims to keep their identities secret at the sentencing would protect them from possible retaliation. Raniere’s attorney responded by saying that there is no evidence that his client has tried to retaliate against his accusers

Raniere (center, in a sketch from May 2019) will be sentenced this month on charges of trafficking and racketeering

Raniere (center, in a sketch from May 2019) will be sentenced this month on charges of trafficking and racketeering after being convicted last year

The case against Raniere was largely centered around the secretive sect of Nxivm called DOS where women were starved, blackmailed, branded and forced to submit to a variety of sexual acts including orgies at the request of their ‘master,’ Raniere. 

It took just four hours of deliberation for a jury to find Raniere guilty on all counts.

The trial lasted for six weeks, during which time multiple women were called to the stand to describe how they served as ‘sex slaves’ to Raniere and were forced to have his initials branded on their bodies. 

These women testified about how they were forced to turn over collateral in the form of damning and often false statements about themselves, while also providing graphic nude photos of themselves, including images of their genitalia.

That was not all either, with Raniere also making demands that the woman stay thin and not trim their pubic hair. 

‘Over the last seven weeks, 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 involving sex trafficking, child pornography, extortion compelled abortions, branding, degradation and humiliation,’ US Attorney Richard Donoghue said in a statement at the time.

‘The evidence proved that Raniere was truly a modern-day Svengali.’ 

Raniere now faces life in prison after being convicted of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, forced labor conspiracy, sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy and attempted sex trafficking. 

Others from his inner circle – including Smallville actress Allison Mack and heiress Clare Bronfman (pictured in 2018) – have also sensationally pleaded guilty to various NXIVM-related crimes

Others from his inner circle – including Smallville actress Allison Mack and heiress Clare Bronfman (pictured in 2018) – have also sensationally pleaded guilty to various NXIVM-related crimes

Last month, it was revealed that the sentencing for Bronfman (pictured), the financier of the sex cult NXIVM had been postponed as a judge considers giving her more prison time than recommended amount

Last month, it was revealed that the sentencing for Bronfman (pictured), the financier of the sex cult NXIVM had been postponed as a judge considers giving her more prison time than recommended amount

He was also convicted on all 11 underlying counts of racketeering that fell under the wire fraud charge. 

Raniere had entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. 

Others from his inner circle – including Smallville actress Allison Mack and heiress Clare Bronfman – have also sensationally pleaded guilty to various NXIVM-related crimes. 

Last month, it was revealed that the sentencing for Bronfman, the financier of the sex cult NXIVM had been postponed as a judge considers giving her more prison time than recommended amount.

Bronfman, the 40-year-old billionaire heiress to the Canadian conglomerate Seagram, was due to be sentenced on January 8, but in December Garaufis pushed the date back to February 14. 

It was recommended that she serve 21 to 27 months in prison, but Garaufis is considering an even longer sentence. 

However, Garaufis did not provide an explanation as to why he’s considering a harsher sentence.

Self help guru Raniere founded NXIVM in the 1990s as an organization meant to help women pave a path to person growth. 

Bronfman (left) and her sister Sara (right) reportedly fell into the group through NXIVM's 'Executive Success Program' workshops. Sara has never been accused of committing any crimes

Bronfman (left) and her sister Sara (right) reportedly fell into the group through NXIVM’s ‘Executive Success Program’ workshops. Sara has never been accused of committing any crimes

But Sara did agree in December to give up her ownership interests in three properties near Albany that are owned by the organization. In exchange, the 43-year-old will receive a 20 per cent share of their sale

But Sara did agree in December to give up her ownership interests in three properties near Albany that are owned by the organization. In exchange, the 43-year-old will receive a 20 per cent share of their sale

He was arrested last April in his Mexican hideaway with a harem of sex slaves.

Bronfman, the daughter of billionaire philanthropist and former Seagram liquor chairman, Edgar Bronfman Sr, worked as the group’s financier using her family fortune to keep the group afloat. 

Prosecutors say Bronfman aided Raniere by paying off his credit-card debt and helping get an illegal immigrant into the US. 

In the cult, Bronfman contributed more than $14million to the organization and established a trust fund to contribute to legal costs. 

The case against Raniere was largely centered around the secretive sect of Nxivm called DOS where women were starved, blackmailed, branded (pictured) and forced to submit to a variety of sexual acts including orgies at the request of their 'master,' Raniere

The case against Raniere was largely centered around the secretive sect of Nxivm called DOS where women were starved, blackmailed, branded (pictured) and forced to submit to a variety of sexual acts including orgies at the request of their ‘master,’ Raniere

Bronfman pleaded guilty in April 2019 to conspiring to harbor immigrants for financial gain and fraudulent use of identification.  

She joined NXIVM in the early 2000s and became its legal enforcer, filing and financing lawsuits against Raniere’s enemies, according to the New York Times. 

She and her sister Sara reportedly fell into the group through NXIVM’s ‘Executive Success Program’ workshops. 

Sara Bronfman-Igtet agreed in December to give up her ownership interests in three properties near Albany that are owned by the organization.

In exchange, the 43-year-old will receive a 20 per cent share of their sale.

According to an agreement filed in US District court, Bronfman-Igtet’s amount will be capped at $200,000 for all three properties.

The three properties are located near each other on New Karner Road just outside Albany. One of the locations is the headquarters of the NXIVM organization, the Times Union reported.

Bronfman-Igtet has never been accused of committing any crimes. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk