What is the NXIVM sex cult?
NXIVM claimed to be a self-help group but was actually a cult that authorities say engaged in sex trafficking. Founder Keith Raniere was sentenced to 120 years in prison, and cult member Allison Mack will be sentenced in July of 2021. NXIVM claimed to be a self-help group and a multi-level marketing organization. Within the organization, there was a womens-only subsect led by Keith Raniere known as "DOS." The groups former publicist Frank Parlato claims that to join, women are brainwashed into handing over blackmail-worthy material such as pornographic pictures or financial information. Once they became a member - or slave - they were allegedly encouraged to recruit new women into their slave pods" to be on call 24 hours a day to their master." 3 Former self-help guru Keith Raniere is seen in this courtroom sketch Credit: Reuters  If they dont recruit enough "slaves" or respond to their masters fast enough, they were beaten with paddles, Parlato claims. New members were later taken by surprise, told to strip naked, and then forcibly branded, according to Parlato. They allegedly had to follow strict 500 to 800 calorie a day diets because leader Raniere prefered skinny women and told his followers that fat interferes with his energy levels. The controversial leader is also said to have had a harem of women who willingly slept with him, believing that they will have been "healed by having sex with him. Female slaves were branded with Keith and Allison's initials  Raniere was arrested in Mexico. In June 2019 he was found guilty of sex trafficking, forced labour conspiracy, racketeering, wire fraud conspiracy, possession of child pornography and other crimes. A jury in federal court in Brooklyn took less than five hours to find Raniere guilty on all counts, prompting ex-Nxivm members to burst into applause. Raniere showed no reaction as he learned the verdict. He would be sentenced to 120 years behind bars. Allison Mack is a television actress best known for playing a young Supermans close friend in Smallville. She was charged with sex trafficking, after federal prosecutors said she worked as a slave master to recruit unsuspecting women to Ranieres sex cult. Mack was said to be Ranieres direct slave and had a sexual relationship with him - but also acted as a master to other slaves, according to the criminal complaint. Mack pleaded guilty to racketeering charges on Monday, May 6, 2019 and is waiting for her sentence. NXIVM is pronounced as "nexium". It is not clear what those initials actually mean. The sex-slave subsect of the group led by Raniere was known as "DOS," which victims say stands for dominus obsequious sororium" - Latin for master over the slave women. It has been alleged that Raniere subjected his slave members to humiliating acts including branding them. A court heard that Raniere had 20 "sex slaves" that he branded with his initials. MOST READ IN NEWS SPILLING OVER Shocking moment Maccies security guard batters woman who threw drink over him 'FREAK ACCIDENT' Two skydivers killed after falling from plane in tandem jump horror RAIN OF TERROR Met Office warning with torrential rains & thunderstorms to batter UK FLAT HORROR Two killed in 'violent row' as neighbours heard screams when cops opened fire G7 heaven Hancock took aide Gina to G7 summit & faces claims of 'sh**ging on taxpayer cash' LOVE NEST Hancock serious about Gina & likely to set up home together' after leaving wife  He would allegedly burn his initials into his victims' flesh, including that of Mack and billionaire heiress Clare Bronfman. The mark left on the skin shows a symbol made up from the letters K and A, for Keith and Allison. According to the New York Times expos, each branding tool 20-30 minutes, and muffled screams and the smell of burning tissues would fill the room for hours. Smallville actress Alison Mack stars in NXIVM recruitment video  We pay for your stories! Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.