A lawsuit was filed on Jan. 28 by several dozen women and men who claim that Keith Raniere and NXIVM engaged in sex trafficking and forced labor, and committed abuse against them and other people who fell victim to what they call a Ponzi scheme and coercive community.

Sex Trafficking Survivors Sue NXIVM

Named plaintiffs Sarah E., Toni N., Mark V. and several dozen anonymous victims known as Jane and John Does filed their lawsuit against Keith Raniere, Nancy Salzman, NXIVM, and several other named associates in late January 2020. Several of the plaintiffs claim to be sex trafficking survivors who escaped from NXIVM.

According to the New York Post, although NXIVM purported to be a personal improvement and development program, victims say the organization was closer to a cult. According to them, NXIVM used methods from pyramid schemes and multi-level marketing to recruit new members into the hierarchical organization. Once they were in, members found it incredibly hard to leave NXIVM.

Victims told reporters that the leaders of the group, including Raniere, as well as Seagrams heiresses, Smallville actress Allison Mack, and others, made it physically, financially, and psychologically difficult to leave the community. They claim that Raniere, Salzman, and other NXIVM leaders used psychological techniques to make the victims entirely dependent on them before exploiting them. This exploitation allegedly took the form of human trafficking, forced labor, and sexual, physical, and emotional abuse.

According to the plaintiffs, there was a second, smaller group inside of NXIVM known as DOS, or the Vow, where much of this exploitation took place.

Allegedly, women were recruited into DOS, where they were told they would be offered one-on-one mentorships with high-level women in the community. However, despite being told that DOS was an all-female group, the victims claim it was actually a place where attractive women who were seen as potential sexual partners for Raniere were groomed for sexual exploitation.

Women who were recruited into the group were allegedly required to give the leaders collateral in order to prove that they were trustworthy before they were given information on the nature of DOS. The plaintiffs say that this collateral could be financial assets, but was often nude photos, compromising letters, and other materials that would result in shame and humiliation for the victims and their families if they were released.

After the initial collateral was accepted by the leaders, the victims claim that additional collateral was demanded, on the implied or explicit threat that if they did not comply, the collateral they had already provided would be released. Allegedly, after this additional collateral was provided, it was revealed to the recruits that DOS was not simply a mentorship program, but a pyramid of “master/slave” relationships where the mentees were expected to be obedient to their mentors.

The Democrat & Chronicle reports that DOS slaves were allegedly subject to abuses including food or calorie deprivation, sleep deprivation, physical labor, and punishments such as cold showers, corporal punishment, and ridicule. Additionally, some slaves within DOS were allegedly branded with cauterizing irons in procedures that were done without anesthesia. One Jane Doe who was branded with Raniere’s initials told reporters that the branding wound did not close for two months.

The victims also claim they were required to be available for sexual interactions with Raniere at his demand. Victims who did not comply with the demands were subject to threats, including the possibility of their collateral being publicly released. According to one anonymous plaintiff, she was coerced into having sex with Raniere after two years of being groomed by him and the other leaders. After she eventually told Raniere she wanted to cease all sexual contact with him, she claims that he and the other leaders began to harass and abuse her continuously. This abuse allegedly culminated in her confinement in a room for nearly two years, during which time she had almost no human contact despite her begging to be released.

This lawsuit comes in the midst of other claims that those in power sexually abused people under the pretext of providing opportunities to victims.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of sex trafficking, you may be able to hire an experienced attorney to review your case and aid you in filing a lawsuit against your abusers. Sex trafficking survivors may be able to collect financial compensation and punitive damages, such as pain and suffering.

The NXIVM Lawsuit is Case No: 1:20-cv-00485-EK-SMG, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

If you were a victim of sex trafficking and forced to work at a truck stop, hotel or motel, night club or other hotel venue, you may be eligible to move forward with a civil investigation against these businesses. This investigation involves a civil case, and is not a criminal case against you or your loved ones.

Top Class Actions is working with experienced human trafficking attorneys who will be informed and sensitive to your situation. Join the fight by filling out the short form on this page. 

Learn More