High-ranking sex cult leader Lauren Salzman was sentenced on Wednesday by a Federal Judge to 5 years probation and 300 hours of community service with absolutely no time in prison.
Lauren Salzman fully cooperated during the investigation of the notorious Upstate New York sex cult named NXIVM. Salzman was facing seven to nine years in prison. Her cooperation, labeled “extraordinary,” helped prosecutors convict “self-help guru” Keith Raniere, 60, to 120 years in prison.
The laundry list of charges that NXIVM cult founder Raniere was convicted of with the help of Salzman, described as a loyal follower and inner-circle confidante, include “sex trafficking for forcing women in the group into having sex with him.”
Prosecutors insisted that the U.S. District Court Judge Nicholas Garaufis lessen Salzman’s sentencing since, without her help, Raniere may not have been put away for life.
“The extent of Lauren Salzman’s cooperation and the significance of her assistance to the government were extraordinary,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanya Hajjar wrote in a memo to Judge Garaufis.
Raniere ran the sex cult and the assistance of numerous women, including Salzman’s mother, NXIVM president Nancy Salzman, bookkeeper Kathy Russell, Seagram liquor heiress Claire Bronfman and “Smallville” actress Allison Mack.
All of them reportedly pleaded guilty to several charges.
“Smallville” actress Allison Mack was sentenced to three years in prison after facing 14 to 17 1/2 years because she also fully cooperated during the investigation.
