US actor Allison Mack has been released from prison after serving two years for her role in a sex-trafficking case tied to the Nxivm cult-like group. The 40-year-old, known for her role in the tv series Smallville, pleaded guilty to racketeering and conspiracy charges in April 2019, admitting to her efforts to recruit women to the Nxivm sex cult.
Mack was sentenced to three years in prison, but the Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed that she was released early on Monday. Nxivm, pronounced “nexium,” initially presented itself as a self-help program when it was established in 1998. The group claimed to have worked with over 16,000 individuals, including prominent figures such as the son of a former Mexican president and Hollywood actresses like Mack.
Prosecutors alleged that Mack played a key role in recruiting and grooming women to serve as sexual partners for Keith Raniere, the leader of Nxivm. Despite Raniere being the only man at the top of the organization, Mack served as one of his top female deputies. Female recruits were reportedly branded with Raniere’s initials and were expected to engage in sexual activities with him in exchange for joining the group, which operated out of Albany, New York.
The news of Mack’s release was initially reported by the Albany Times Union. Although she was initially facing a potential prison sentence of up to 17 years, her cooperation with prosecutors and provision of evidence against Raniere led to a reduced sentence.
In 2020, Raniere himself was sentenced to 120 years in prison for various crimes, including coercing women into becoming his sexual “slaves.” Prior to her sentencing, Mack expressed remorse for her actions and apologized to those who were affected by her involvement with Nxivm. She referred to her association with the group as “the biggest mistake and regret of my life” and extended her apologies to those she had brought into Nxivm, acknowledging the emotionally abusive schemes orchestrated by Raniere.
