Smallville actress pleads guilty to involvement to “sex-cult” NVIXM

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Allison Mack, who is best known for her role in Smallville, has pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges related to her role in NXIVM, an organization which claims to be a self-help group, but is under investigation for being a cult. Court papers allege Allison helped gain women recruits who were branded with the initials of their spiritual leader, Keith Raniere (reportedly per her suggestion), and forced to have sex with him.

“Ms. Mack was one of the top members of a highly organized scheme which was designed to provide sex to [Raniere],” assistant US attorney Moira Penza said in court last year, when Allison was first charged with sex trafficking. “Under the guise of female empowerment, she starved women until they fit her co-defendant’s sexual feminine ideal.”

The Hollywood Reporter sources added that, “These slaves said Mack was incredibly intimidating, cruel and punitive.”

The actress initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, but changed her tune in her most recent trial. This time, the actress admitted to manipulating women into becoming sex slaves for Keith, and further revealed that at Raniere’s bidding, she obtained “compromising information” and images of unidentified women as that she threatened to make public if they didn’t perform “so-called acts of love”.

During the trial, she wept as she apologized to the women who prosecutors say were exploited. “I believed Keith Raniere’s intentions were to help people and I was wrong,” Allison told the judge. “I know I can and will be a better person.”

Allison’s guilty plea means she will no longer go to trial with Raniere, and members of his inner circle, heiress Clare Bronfman, and Kathy Russell, who all have pleaded not guilty.

Her sentencing was set for Sept. 11. These are truly shocking, and we hope the upcoming trials will bring justice to the victims.

[The Guardian and Elle]