Allison Mack was once known for her starring role as Chloe Sullivan, one of Clark Kent's closest confidants, on the hit CW show Smallville. However, it is her off-screen persona that may permanently taint her acting career in lieu of some strange and unlawful affiliations. Mack has been charged with sex trafficking and forced labour conspiracy charges in relation to the covert NXIVM (pronounced Nexium) group.
The former actress was promptly arrested by the New York Police Department in connection to Keith Raniere's cultish organization. Mack eventually posted bond, and was greeted by a flock of paparazzi who were nearly stumbling over themselves in order to snap a pic and ask a few questions. She was detained by federal authorities at her Brooklyn apartment last week, as prosecutors believe she assisted Raniere in recruiting sex slaves.
Mack was promptly released and is headed to California to stay with her parents; her legal team have entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf. If convicted, she and Raniere could face 15 years to life in prison for her crimes.
Raniere was the brains behind this shady operation, whose disciples included actresses, wealthy heiresses, as well as a son of a former Mexican president. Known as "Nxians," followers were "encouraged to pay for additional [NXIVM] classes and to recruit others to take classes in order to rise within the ranks of NXIVM."
The group practices a pyramidal scheme of hierarchy, including the "DOS" sect of masters who held slaves. As a result "many DOS slaves were branded on their pelvic areas using a cauterizing pen with a symbol which, unbeknownst to them, incorporated Raniere’s initials. “During the branding ceremonies, slaves were required to be fully naked, and a master would order one slave to film the branded while the others restrained the slave being branded."
