Clare Bronfman Pleads Guilty In Nxivm Sex Slave Cult Case
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Heiress Clare Bronfman pleaded guilty on Friday to being involved in the alleged sex-slavery cult Nxivm, CBS News reported.
In her plea, Bronfman admitted she hid someone living in the U.S. illegally for unpaid “labor and services.” She also said she committed credit card fraud while working for Keith Raniere, who led Nxivm in upstate New York.
Bronfman, the daughter of the late philanthropist and former Seagram chairman Edgar Bronfman Sr., told the judge she was trying to help people. Nxivm described itself as a “self-help” organization, but according to officials, it was actually a cult that branded members and forced them into having sex with Raniere.
Bronfman apologized for her involvement with the organization. “Your honor, I was afforded a great gift by my grandfather and father,” she said. “With the gift, comes immense privilege and more importantly, tremendous responsibility. It does not come with an ability to break the law.”
She is required to pay $6 million of a fortune worth $200 million, according to CBS, and faces more than two years in prison. She’ll be sentenced July 25.
Raniere is facing conspiracy and sex trafficking charges. Four other Nxivm insiders, besides Bronfman, have pleaded guilty, including former “Smallville” actress Allison Mack, who was Raniere’s top aide.
Alyssa Fisher is a writer at the Forward. Email her at fisher@forward.com, or follow her on Twitter at @alyssalfisher
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