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Clare Bronfman: Heiress of spirits and Nxivm supporter
Photo: BRENDAN MCDERMID / REUTERS
The spirits heiress Clara Bronfman has been sentenced to several years imprisonment for her role as a supporter of the alleged US psychosect Nxivm.
A New York court on Wednesday sentenced the 41-year-old to 81 months in prison, i.e. six years and nine months.
The judge repeatedly criticized Clare Bronfman for supporting Keith Raniere, the Nxivm guru, and his organization, even after there was evidence of his sexual offenses.
The founder of an alleged self-help group in the state of New York had abused women for years as "sex slaves" and sometimes branded them.
Raniere was found guilty of coercion of sex, the use of forced labor and the formation of a criminal organization in June 2019.
Bronfman, the heiress of the former liquor empire Seagram, pleaded guilty in 2019 to having committed credit card fraud and hiding illegal immigrants.
Prosecutors said Keith Raniere could not have committed his crimes without Bronfman's financial support.
Bronfman's defense argued that her client was unaware of Raniere's sexual abuse.
The court's verdict went beyond the prosecutor's request, which had called for five years.
In connection with the Nxivm scandal, a total of six accused were charged, among them the actress Allison Mack, known from the TV series "Smallville" and "Wilfred".
She has also pleaded guilty and awaits her sentence.
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bbr / AFP / AP
