Trial set for 'Smallville' star Allison Mack in sex-cult case
Allison Mack and Keith Raniere came face-to-face on Friday in Brooklyn federal court. It’s the first time the Smallville actress has seen Raniere, the alleged leader of a sex cult purportedly involving Mack, since he was arrested in Mexico in March.
A judge has scheduled a trial for the pair to begin on Oct. 1. Both Mack and Raniere have been charged with sex trafficking, sex-trafficking conspiracy, and forced-labor conspiracy for their involvement in the alleged sex cult.
Mack and Raniere have separate legal representation and did not look at each other at all during today’s status conference, according to Fox News, which reported that Mack “appeared nervous and shaken up in court, focusing her gaze mostly on the floor except when looking up at the judge.”
Raniere pleaded not guilty on all charges on Friday. He and the 35-year-old actress have been accused of running a secret sorority called DOS within the self-help group NXIVM, which was founded by Raniere. Mack, his alleged co-conspirator, supposedly recruited women as sex slaves, coerced them to perform sexual acts, and branded them with their initials.
“There are groups of men who brand themselves. When women choose to brand themselves they become victims?” Keith Raniere’s attorneys speaking outside of federal court right now regarding #NXIVM charges.
— Ayla Ferrone (@AylaFerrone) May 4, 2018
One bombshell revelation came when prosecutors revealed that Mack married Battlestar Galactica actress Nicki Clyne in February 2017 at the alleged request of Raniere. Clyne has supposedly been a member of NXIVM for years.
pretty sure this is the poster for “my so-called life: the new class.”
A post shared by nicki clyne (@nickiclyne) on Jul 29, 2017 at 4:13pm PDT
In Friday’s status conference, federal prosecutors told Judge Nicholas Garaufis they are anticipating more charges and additional suspects. A superseding indictment could come in a month or so, Assistant U.S. Attorney Moira Penza said, according to the New York Daily News.
Raniere has been held without bail, whereas Mack was released on $5 million bond last week. She has been placed under house arrest with GPS monitoring at her parents’ home in California. A follow-up status conference has been set for June 12, and Mack’s lawyers are apparently petitioning that she not be ordered to appear. It’s believed that Mack is working on a plea deal with federal prosecutors.
Mack is best known for portraying Chloe Sullivan on Smallville from 2001 to 2011. She has praised Raniere throughout the years, revealing that she joined NXIVM to cope with the “overwhelming and intimidating” success she experienced.
“I have a wonderful teacher and mentor named Keith Raniere who really gave me some incredible guidance,” she said in an interview with Fine Magazine last year. “I think everyone needs a mentor.”
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