NEW YORK — Allison Mack, a TV actor who was a prominent figure in a scandal-plagued, cult-like organization in upstate New York, is scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday after pleading guilty to charges that she coerced women into becoming sex slaves for the group’s spiritual leader.
In a letter submitted with the court last week, she said that devoting herself to the self-help guru was “the worst mistake and greatest regret of my life.”
Mack may face a sentence of 14 to 17 1/2 years in prison under advisory sentencing guidelines. In court filings, her defense team argued that probation or a sentence to home confinement would be more suitable, and prosecutors agreed that any jail sentence should be less than the recommendations range due to her cooperation.
Raniere escaped to Mexico with Mack and others as police closed in on him, hoping to resurrect the organization there. In March 2018, he was apprehended and deported to the United States; Mack was apprehended a few days later.
According to the defense filings, “Ms. Mack now recognizes that this was the greatest thing that could have occurred to her at the time.”
According to Raniere, the branding should include “a vulnerable posture sort of thing” with “hands presumably above the head being restrained, almost like being tied down, like a sacrifice, whatever.” “The women should say, ‘Please brand me,” he added. It would be a privilege.’ Or something along those lines.”
For his conviction on sex-trafficking charges, Raniere was sentenced to 120 years in jail last year.