He branded them with his initials — and then he branded them liars.
Nxivm founder Keith Raniere shamelessly labeled his accusers as liars in Brooklyn federal court on Tuesday — before he was sentenced to 120 years behind bars for running a twisted sex-slave cult.
Wearing navy prison-issue scrubs over an orange shirt, the 60-year-old sicko gave some off-the-cuff remarks after a slew of his victims detailed how they were sexually, physically and mentally abused by him to the court.
“They’re lying for a reason and that reasons stems from me,” the perverted puppet master said, insinuating he’d done something to cause his former followers to lie about him.
Offering a non-apology, Raniere said he was “deeply sorry” for the pain he’d caused — while also insisting he was innocent of the charges, which included sex-trafficking, racketeering, child pornography and forced labor.
“I do feel deep remorse but I do not feel remorse for the crimes I didn’t commit,” Raniere said calmly from his seat at the defense table.
The creepy cult leader even looked as his accusers in the gallery — and lauded them for speaking in court, despite claiming they were lying.
“It’s still painful to get up there and speak and it takes courage,” Raniere told the women.
Looking at the judge, he added: “The hurt is true. The anger is true.”
During his 2019 trial, victims outlined how the upstate guru created a master-slave group within Nxivm where women handed over damaging “collateral” like nude photos — then had his initials branded into their skin, were placed on strict diets and were forced to pleasure him.
Those who spoke against Raniere in court Tuesday included his first sex slave, identified only as “Camila,” who finally broke her silence to tell the judge that the cult leader took her virginity at age 15.
India Oxenberg, the daughter of TV actress Catherine Oxenberg, also said Raniere starved her to make her look like a 12-year-old and accused him of rape.
The master manipulator also asked the judge to go easy on his cohorts, including “Smallville” star Allison Mack, who is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty last year to racketeering and racketeering conspiracy charges for her role in Nxivm.
“Allison should spend no times in prison,” Raniere said.
Another of his followers, Seagram’s booze heiress Clare Bronfman, was handed nearly seven years behind bars earlier this month.
“Not only are they innocent… please rethink their roles,” Raniere said of his accomplices.
“Blame me if you have to.”
Share this article:
Source: Read Full Article