Mack was a member of
NXIVM, an organization founded by cult leader
Keith Raniere and headquartered in
Albany,
New York. Throughout its existence, advocates of NXIVM characterized it as a benign
multi-level marketing company selling professional and personal development courses, while critics described it as a cult.
NXIVM and DOS Mack joined NXIVM in 2006 after attending a two-day introduction to "Jness", a women's group within NXIVM, eventually becoming a high-ranking member of the organization. Mack was co-creator of "The Source", a NXIVM program that recruited actors. and the
emcee of "A Capella Innovations", a multi-day festival. Hosted by NXIVM in 2007 and 2008, the events were billed as a
university singing showcase and were alleged to be "a front to draw impressionable undergrads into NXIVM." In 2015, Raniere created a secret subgroup within NXIVM called "
Dominus Obsequious Sororium" (DOS), of which Mack was allegedly second-in-command. DOS was structured as a pyramid group with Raniere at the top (and the only man in DOS) with subordinates including Mack and others as Raniere's first-line DOS masters. DOS was ostensibly built around
female empowerment but mainly provided a means to traffic women for Raniere's gratification. Recruits were also controlled in several other ways, including requirements to seek permission, physical isolation, forced participation in "readiness drills",
sleep deprivation, extremely restrictive diets, and being subject to
corporal punishment. Mack reportedly recruited four women into DOS, including
India Oxenberg, daughter of actress
Catherine Oxenberg. Mack's recruits were unaware that the brand was composed of Raniere's initials, and said that Mack had told them that the brand was a symbol of the elements: air, earth, fire, and water. Former NXIVM member
Sarah Edmondson stated in a 2017
New York Times exposé and a 2018
A&E special on cults details about DOS that she had been branded in an initiation ceremony at Mack's house. In a
New York Times interview, Mack claimed that the
human branding was her idea. The federal indictment accused Mack of "recruiting women to join what was purported to be a
female mentorship group that was, in fact, created and led by Keith Raniere." Prosecutors accused Mack of concealing Raniere's status as the leader of DOS as she coaxed recruits to provide highly damaging personal information, nude photos, and rights to personal assets. In exchange, Mack received financial and other benefits from Raniere. During Mack's arraignment proceedings, prosecutors also accused her of entering a
sham marriage with
Nicki Clyne to help Clyne circumvent US immigration laws. In March 2019, it was revealed in court that Mack and the other defendants in the case were in "active plea negotiations" as Raniere appeared in court to plead not guilty to additional
child pornography charges related to the case. According to a filing by the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Mack sat down for
proffer sessions to assist the government in the prosecution of Raniere starting in April 2019. Mack detailed the inner workings of DOS. "Mack also provided details regarding crimes committed by other first-line DOS masters, including assignments to seduce Raniere and efforts to find Raniere a virgin successor. Mack detailed Raniere's role in devising assignments for Mack's slaves, including, among other things, Raniere's repeated requests for nude photographs from Mack's DOS slaves; Raniere's instructions regarding the seduction assignment; and Raniere's encouragement of the use of demeaning and derogatory language, including racial slurs, to humiliate DOS slaves." Mack provided information to the government about
Clare Bronfman's attempts to harass and threaten DOS victims. Mack also provided a recording in which Raniere detailed how he wanted the branding ceremony conducted. On April 8, 2019, Mack pleaded guilty to
racketeering and racketeering conspiracy and admitted to state law
extortion and forced labor. In June 2019, Raniere was found guilty on all charges and was sentenced to 120 years in October 2020. The
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States delayed court proceedings, including the sentencings of Mack and other NXIVM defendants. In 2021, prosecutors began the process of sentencing Mack. Under advisory sentencing guidelines, Mack faced 14 to 17.5 years behind bars. The U.S. Attorney credited Mack with providing "detailed and highly corroborated information" and advocated for favourable sentencing for Mack. Days before the sentencing, Mack released a statement in which she repudiated Raniere, saying that her involvement with NXIVM was "the biggest mistake and greatest regret of [her] life" and expressed remorse in regard to those affected. In addition to the letter, her attorneys asked for no jail time in consideration for Mack's remorse and her cooperation with Raniere's prosecution. On June 30, 2021, Mack was sentenced to three years in prison and three years of probation, 1,000 hours of community service, and a fine of $20,000. On September 13, 2021, Mack reported to
Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin, in
Dublin, California to begin her prison sentence. She was released early on July 3, 2023, after serving 1 year, 9 months, and 20 days of a 3-year sentence.
Civil lawsuit In January 2020, Mack, Raniere, Clyne, and other NXIVM individuals were named as defendants in a civil lawsuit filed in federal court by 80 former NXIVM members. The lawsuit details allegations of fraud and abuse and charges of being a
pyramid scheme; as well as exploitation of its recruits, conducting illegal human experiments, and making it "physically and psychologically difficult, and in some cases impossible, to leave the coercive community."
Fictional portrayal In 2019,
Catherine Oxenberg produced the
Lifetime television film ''
Escaping the NXIVM Cult: A Mother's Fight to Save Her Daughter'', with actress
Sara Fletcher as Mack. ==Personal life==