Smallville's Allison Mack pleads guilty to racketeering charges in sex cult case
Smallvile actress Allison Mack has pleaded guilty to racketeering charges over her role in an alleged sex cult.
The actress said in court on Monday that she has "come to the conclusion that I must take full responsibility for my conduct,"Vulture reports. After previously entering a not guilty plea, she pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering and another count of racketeering conspiracy.
After arresting Mack in April 2018, the FBI alleged that she recruited women to what she said was a mentorship group under the organization NXIVM but which consisted of a sex trafficking cult in which "slaves," who were controlled by "masters," were "exploited, both sexually and for their labor." Mack allegedly "directly or implicitly required" women recruited for the organization to engage in sexual activity with its founder, Keith Raniere. The women were allegedly branded with Raniere's initials and required to provide compromising material that could be released for any reason, including if they left the organization. For her role in this, Mack was financially compensated, the FBI said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Mack in court admitted that she participated in the organization and instructed women to "perform services for me," also saying that the group was "designed to make them think they could suffer serious harm" if they refused, Page Six reports. She also said that she "believed Keith Raniere's intentions were to help people, and I was wrong." She faces up to 20 years in prison.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Unprepared for a pandemic
Opinion What happens if bird flu evolves to spread among humans?
By William Falk Published
-
6 impressive homes in Toronto
Feature Featuring floating stairs in Lytton Park and a two-tiered infinity pool in Banbury-Don Mills
By The Week Staff Published
-
Samantha Harvey's 6 favorite books that redefine how we see the world
Feature The Booker Prize-winning author recommends works by Marilynne Robinson, George Eliot, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published