NEW YORK (AP) - A wealthy heiress pleaded guilty on Friday in a sensational case accusing a cult-like upstate New York group of creating a secret harem of sex slaves for the group's self-anointed spiritual leader.
- Co-founder Keith Raniere still facing multiple charges
- Allison Mack, Nancy Salzman and Lauren Salzman have previously pleaded guilty
- Trial expected to begin in mid-May
Clare Bronfman admitted in her plea in federal court in Brooklyn that she harbored someone who was living in the U.S. illegally for unpaid "labor and services," and that she committed credit card fraud on the behalf of Keith Raniere — the leader of the group called NXIVM.
Bronfman — the 40-year-old daughter of the late billionaire philanthropist and former Seagram chairman Edgar Bronfman Sr. — told the judge she had wanted to help people through NXIVM but ended up dishonoring her family.
"Your honor, I was afforded a great gift by my grandfather and father," Bronfman said. "With the gift, comes immense privilege and more importantly, tremendous responsibility. It does not come with an ability to break the law."
She added: "For this, I am truly sorry."
As part of a plea agreement, Bronfman agreed to forfeit $6 million. She faces up to 27 months in prison at sentencing on July 25.
The plea means Bronfman will avoid going to trial early next month with Raniere, who's facing conspiracy charges alleging that his inner circle of loyalists created a secret society of women who were forced to have unwanted sex with him. Prosecutors say some of the women were branded with his initials as part of their initiation.
Three other co-defendants, including TV actress Allison Mack, have also pleaded guilty. Mack is best best known for her role as a young Superman's close friend in the series "Smallville."
Bronfman had long been affiliated with NXIVM, giving away tens of million of dollars of her fortune to bankroll Raniere and his program of intense self-improvement classes. She also paid for lawyers to defend the group against a lawsuit brought by its critics.