Smallville star Allison Mack has been sentenced to three years in prison for charges relating to her involvement in the cult-like NXIVM group.
She had pleaded guilty to the charges, which had accused her of manipulating women into becoming sex slaves for the group’s leader Keith Raniere.
The 38-year-old reportedly cried as she told a New York court: “I made choices I will forever regret.”
She also said she was consumed with “remorse and guilt”.
The actress, best known for playing Superman’s friend in Smallville, said in a letter to court that she was “sorry to those of you that [she] brought into NXIVM”.
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She continued: “I am sorry I ever exposed you to the nefarious and emotionally abusive schemes of a twisted man.”
Members of the group, led by Raniere, who was sentenced to 120 years behind bars, were branded with his initials in a sick act of mutilation.
Under normal circumstances, Allison would have been facing 14 to 17 years in jail, but prosecutors agreed that a lesser sentence would suit as she had been cooperative.
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She had been a key part of Raniere’s group and inner circle, bringing in millionaires and actors.
Prosecutors said she was a “master” for “slaves” who she instructed “to perform labour, take nude photographs, and in some cases, to engage in sex acts with Raniere”.
The group – NXIVM, pronounced “nex-ee-um” – was formed in 1998 in Albany, upstate New York and claimed to be a “personal and professional development” company.
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Prosecutors said during the trial that NXIVM was actually a cover-up for a sex cult that manipulated countless victims, even putting some on starvation diets.
Founder Raniere, 60, Mack and other members fled to Mexico as authorities closed in, but they were arrested in March 2018.
Raniere was sentenced to 120 years in jail, while half-British Clare Bronfman was sentenced to almost seven years for her involvement.
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According to official documents, Allison had said that Raniere had encouraged “the use of demeaning and derogatory language, including racial slurs, to humiliate ‘slaves'”.
Allison was previously known for starring in the TV series Smallville, playing Superman’s friend Chloe Sullivan.
She was later cast in the FX sitcom Wilfred, playing a character named Amanda in a recurring role.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
