A former Suffern resident was convicted yesterday in Brooklyn federal court of seven felonies, including forced labor conspiracy and sex trafficking. The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle says the leader of the “master-slave group NXIVM,” 58-year-old Keith Raniere, was found guilty of all charges. The jury deliberated less than five hours. The so-called “self-help group” claimed to provide classes to nearly 17,000 people, among them Seagram’s liquor heiress Clare Bronfman and “Smallville” actress Allison Mack. Raniere reportedly claimed to be an all-knowing guru, but prosecutors said he was a fraud and a con man who groomed his followers for sex. CNN says he’s due to be sentenced on September 25th. He faces life in prison. Raniere proclaimed his innocence and plans to appeal.
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