During closing arguments in Mr. In another, a terrified woman named Nicole was tied to a wooden table, blindfolded, while someone performed oral sex on her, Ms. Penza said. A third held an archive of sexually explicit photographs taken by Mr. Raniere, who was known as Vanguard, she said. They showed multiple women within Nxivm , including one Ms. Over the course of four hours, Ms. Penza recapped portions of a six-week trial that included more than a dozen witnesses, including several ex-Nxivm members who described the bizarre inner workings of the group.
She told jurors that Mr. Penza told the jurors. While using the organization as a cover, Mr. One of Mr. Although Mr. Agnifilo said many of his followers accepted that and looked up to him because of his insight and leadership. Raniere, 58, co-founded Nxivm pronounced NEX-ee-um in the s as a self-help organization based near Albany. He is now on trial on charges of racketeering conspiracy, identity theft, extortion, forced labor, money laundering, wire fraud and sex trafficking.
In addition to exploiting women for sex, Mr. Followers paid thousands of dollars to take courses that Mr. Raniere sold as a path to more fulfilling lives. Former Nxivm members have said the courses were a means to indoctrinate and control people. During the trial witnesses testified that members who displeased Mr. Raniere were said to have committed ethical breaches and were subjected to punishment.
There was also testimony that senior Nxivm members spied upon those they considered enemies, including Edgar Bronfman Sr. Among other things, Mr. Raniere was said to have founded a clandestine sorority within Nxivm called D. Some of the women were branded with Mr. They were told the material would be released if they disobeyed orders or tried to leave.
Penza told the jurors that a Mexican woman named Daniela, whom Mr. That sister, Camila, later performed oral sex at Mr. Penza added. And Nicole was recruited to spy on a man within Nxivm whose offense in Mr. Raniere, according to testimony. They acted as his slaves and were encouraged to enroll other women as their own slaves. The collateral was supposed to show commitment but was used to coerce the women, Ms. He characterized D.
