The NXIVM Corporation was based in the New York Capital District and had centers throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.[7][8] The subsidiary companies of NXIVM recruited based on the multi-level marketing model and used curricula based on the intellectual property ("tech") of Raniere called "Rational Inquiry".[9] Courses attracted a variety of notable students including actors as well as the children of the rich and powerful.[10][11] At its height, NXIVM had 700 active members.[12]
Following the New York Times exposé, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York investigated the organization, and in 2018 brought criminal charges against Raniere, co-founder Nancy Salzman and her daughter Lauren, actress Allison Mack, Seagram heiress Clare Bronfman, and bookkeeper Kathy Russell. The U.S. Attorney's Office argued in its Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act prosecution that NXIVM and its subsidiaries existed to promote, enhance and protect Raniere and members of the enterprise. The indictment alleges that Raniere and his co-defendants comprised an organized racketeering enterprise by recruiting others into NXIVM and DOS for financial and personal benefits and committed crimes ranging from sex trafficking to forced labor and visa and wire fraud.[18][19][20][21] All defendants except for Raniere pled guilty.[22][23][24][25][26]
Raniere chose to go to trial in 2019. Prosecutors revealed a decades-long pattern of grooming, sexual abuse of girls and women, physical and psychological punishments against dissenters, and hacking and vexatious litigation against enemies.[27][28] Raniere was convicted on the top charge of racketeering and racketeering conspiracy as well as several other charges. Judge Nicholas Garaufis sentenced Raniere to 120 years imprisonment.[3][29][30][31] Co-conspirators Clare Bronfman, Nancy Salzman, and Allison Mack were given lesser prison sentences.[32][33][34] Lauren Salzman and Kathy Russell were each given non-prison sentences.[35][36]
Following Raniere's conviction, he continues to direct a small set of loyal members from his prison cell, encouraging continued recruitment.[37][38] At his direction, members of the group danced outside Raniere's jail and staged protests against individual prosecutors. Based on statements of support, it was estimated that about 50 to 60 persons remain loyal to Raniere.[39][40]
^Harnish, Amelia. "How NXIVM Brainwashed My Brother". Refinery29. Retrieved July 2, 2022. NXIVM (which is kind of like a parent company to all these separate entities) offered multiple tracks to self-awareness: ESP remains the largest and is often the entrypoint for most people. But there's also Jness, for women; Society of Protectors or SOP for men, both for teaching Raniere's regressive ideas about gender. There's The Source for actors, The Knife Media, Rainbow Cultural Garden for children, the University program, and of course, there's DOS. All of these various curricula have their roots in Raniere's method known as Rational Inquiry.
^Gish, James M. Odato and Jennifer (February 11, 2012). "Secrets of NXIVM". Times Union. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
^Andrews, Suzanna (October 13, 2010). "The Heiresses and the Cult". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on February 10, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
^Moynihan, Colin (June 19, 2019). "Nxivm Trial: Leader Convicted After Trial Exposed Sex Cult's Sordid Inner Workings". The New York Times. ISSN0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019. On Wednesday, jurors in Federal District Court in Brooklyn sided with prosecutors. They found Keith Raniere, the leader of the cultlike group near Albany known as Nxivm, guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking, ending a six-week trial that exposed the sordid inner workings of the organization.